KCL
12-03-2009, 07:45 PM
http://www.kansascity.com/703/story/1609250.html
Mangino out at KU
By J. BRADY McCOLLOUGH
LAWRENCE | It appears that the Mark Mangino era is over at the University of Kansas. A source told The Star on Thursday night that Mangino and the school have reached a settlement.
Kansas players and assistant coaches were meeting with athletic director Lew Perkins inside the Jayhawks’ football complex, and an announcement is expected this evening. Shortly after 6 p.m., coaches and players and Perkins arrived at the complex. Mangino was not seen.
The KU athletic department has been investigating Mangino’s treatment of players since Nov. 17. In the weeks since athletic director Lew Perkins made the internal review public, former players have come forward accusing Mangino of physical and verbal abuse. Other former players have rebutted their statements by saying Mangino’s tough discipline made them into better men.
Mangino’s contract states that if the university had fired him for cause – if he was found to have performed his duties in a discreditable manner or hurt KU’s reputation – he would be paid none of the remaining compensation in the deal. Mangino is still owed around $6 million.
Under his contract, he would have the opportunity to appeal his firing for cause in front of a three-person panel made up of university employees (one chosen by chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little, one by Mangino and one agreed upon by both parties). If Mangino won the appeal, he would be given the full compensation demanded in his contract or KU could reinstate him as head coach. If KU fired Mangino without cause – the Jayhawks did just lose their last seven games to finish 5-7 after beginning the year with legitimate Big 12 North title hopes – then Mangino would be owed around $6.6 million (the $6 million owed on the contract plus a $600,000 buyout).
That leaves a settlement between Mangino and Perkins, which could that would tie up all the loose ends of Mangino’s exit and keep the results of KU’s investigation private.
Mangino is currently 50-48 in eight seasons – just two wins away from tying A.R. Kennedy’s school record of 52 wins set in 1910.
Mangino inherited a program in 2002 that had not had a winning record since 1995 and soon turned the tide. The Jayhawks made the Tangerine Bowl in his second season, nearly upset Texas in his third season and won the Fort Worth bowl in his fourth season.
After a 6-6 season in 2006 didn’t produce a bowl berth, Mangino led the Jayhawks to a 12-1 season in 2007 and an Orange Bowl victory over Virginia Tech. He was consensus national coach of the year.
In the two years since, 2007 has only seemed more remarkable by the game. The Jayhawks struggled for much of 2008, going 6-5 before knocking off Missouri in the Border War and winning the Insight Bowl over Minnesota. The 2009 season started with a promising 5-0 start but began to go the other direction after an upset loss at Colorado.
With Texas, Oklahoma and Texas Tech on the schedule, the past two seasons were supposed to be KU’s chance to show it could be a true championship contender in the Big 12. But the Jayhawks were blown out in every game against the big three from the South division.
Kansas had just lost to Nebraska 31-17 to go 5-5 the Saturday before Perkins met with the Jayhawks to inform them of the investigation into their coach’s behavior. During the entire process, Mangino has vehemently maintained that he did nothing inappropriate.
After KU’s 41-39 loss to Missouri to end the season, Mangino said that he was one of the more pleasant people to deal with in college football.
“Trust me,” he affirmed.
Mangino out at KU
By J. BRADY McCOLLOUGH
LAWRENCE | It appears that the Mark Mangino era is over at the University of Kansas. A source told The Star on Thursday night that Mangino and the school have reached a settlement.
Kansas players and assistant coaches were meeting with athletic director Lew Perkins inside the Jayhawks’ football complex, and an announcement is expected this evening. Shortly after 6 p.m., coaches and players and Perkins arrived at the complex. Mangino was not seen.
The KU athletic department has been investigating Mangino’s treatment of players since Nov. 17. In the weeks since athletic director Lew Perkins made the internal review public, former players have come forward accusing Mangino of physical and verbal abuse. Other former players have rebutted their statements by saying Mangino’s tough discipline made them into better men.
Mangino’s contract states that if the university had fired him for cause – if he was found to have performed his duties in a discreditable manner or hurt KU’s reputation – he would be paid none of the remaining compensation in the deal. Mangino is still owed around $6 million.
Under his contract, he would have the opportunity to appeal his firing for cause in front of a three-person panel made up of university employees (one chosen by chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little, one by Mangino and one agreed upon by both parties). If Mangino won the appeal, he would be given the full compensation demanded in his contract or KU could reinstate him as head coach. If KU fired Mangino without cause – the Jayhawks did just lose their last seven games to finish 5-7 after beginning the year with legitimate Big 12 North title hopes – then Mangino would be owed around $6.6 million (the $6 million owed on the contract plus a $600,000 buyout).
That leaves a settlement between Mangino and Perkins, which could that would tie up all the loose ends of Mangino’s exit and keep the results of KU’s investigation private.
Mangino is currently 50-48 in eight seasons – just two wins away from tying A.R. Kennedy’s school record of 52 wins set in 1910.
Mangino inherited a program in 2002 that had not had a winning record since 1995 and soon turned the tide. The Jayhawks made the Tangerine Bowl in his second season, nearly upset Texas in his third season and won the Fort Worth bowl in his fourth season.
After a 6-6 season in 2006 didn’t produce a bowl berth, Mangino led the Jayhawks to a 12-1 season in 2007 and an Orange Bowl victory over Virginia Tech. He was consensus national coach of the year.
In the two years since, 2007 has only seemed more remarkable by the game. The Jayhawks struggled for much of 2008, going 6-5 before knocking off Missouri in the Border War and winning the Insight Bowl over Minnesota. The 2009 season started with a promising 5-0 start but began to go the other direction after an upset loss at Colorado.
With Texas, Oklahoma and Texas Tech on the schedule, the past two seasons were supposed to be KU’s chance to show it could be a true championship contender in the Big 12. But the Jayhawks were blown out in every game against the big three from the South division.
Kansas had just lost to Nebraska 31-17 to go 5-5 the Saturday before Perkins met with the Jayhawks to inform them of the investigation into their coach’s behavior. During the entire process, Mangino has vehemently maintained that he did nothing inappropriate.
After KU’s 41-39 loss to Missouri to end the season, Mangino said that he was one of the more pleasant people to deal with in college football.
“Trust me,” he affirmed.