Balas: Herbert wanted to stay, but M wouldn't give him the long-term deal he wanted

Sure would be nice if the official reporters for this site would generate some content on this and other staffing news, maybe dispell some bad info, and put up a front page post. The football content they do generate is excellent, but fora posts have been covering a few holes of late.

Michigan has an insane amount of money why in the fuck is Warde being a cheap ass.  Get rid of him already!

Im not a Warde defender, or supporter, in anyway...but at this point, the shit tornado around him is too big and smelly to not raise your eyebrow 

If people want to go, they want to go, but .. uhhh...lot of good coaches are no longer with M across sports, under his watch. 

All the while we are stuck with one that is cratering a once nationally relevant program. 

Or perhaps.. just perhaps Herbert was asking for more than the university was comfortable giving him. Rubber stamping contracts with blank checks does not make someone competent.

(1) There's no way the Chargers are giving Herbert a 10 year contract.  (2) Herbert was asking UM to give him more than the Chargers are giving.  Add those two together and it's difficult to believe he "wanted to stay in Ann Arbor."  If he wanted to stay, he'd say here's my deal from the Chargers, match it and I'll stay.  He didn't do that.  He wants to follow Harbaugh.    

According to Chris Balas

How anyone read past that is beyond me. 

Walking into Warde’s office and saying “I want 10 years guaranteed or I’m walking” isn’t a negotiation.  It’s holding his employer hostage.

Everyone wants to blame Warde, yet it was Ben giving an ultimatum.

I encourage you to walk into your bosses office tomorrow and give him/her the same spiel.  Let me know how that goes.

If this would turn out to be true this would be the last straw with Warde for Warde. 

It sounds like Warde pulled the only move he knows: save a few dollars (that Warde's "value add"), with no thought about the bigger picture.  He is banking on the same money coming into the AD whether Michigan goes 12-0 or 9-3.  Think of all the administrators he can hire by refusing to extend Herbert a year or two and bump his pay 10%:

 https://mgoblog.com/comment/245241266#comment-245241266

Why do we trust the Balas reporting on this? Warde isn't making that hiring decision and Herbert would never go to Ward over Moore, this makes no sense

What price tag do you put on turning 3-4* players into 5* players on the field when the athletic department already refuses to commit money to better recruiting and NIL?  We can’t simply look at Herbert’s salary demand in a vacuum. We have to look at it in the context of what Michigan is unwilling to spend in other areas that Herbert is able to overcome through superior development.  

I don't know if the Balas information is true or not, but for context, Michigan never even gave Jim Harbaugh a 10 year contract.... I love Herbert, but if that is true, it seems like he was just putting it out there for Michigan to turn it down.

I did a bit of research on Tress out of curiosity and found this...interesting that Tress was at both Arkansas and Alabama prior to Michigan.

“I have known Coach Tress since 2014 and have worked in lockstep with him since 2017,” said Herbert. “For the past seven years Justin and I have worked side-by-side through the highest of highs and lowest of lows. I have never once seen his commitment to me or to Michigan Football waiver. Justin is an incredible representation of intelligence, consistency and commitment. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that he will continue to build upon the legacy we have established with Michigan Football.”

“Any time there is transition, great people make decisions that are in the best interest of their family,” added Moore. “We appreciate all that Coach Herb did for the program and wish him well in his next coaching opportunity. He developed a great staff that remains together in Ann Arbor. We know this group will flourish.”

Tress has spent the last six years (2018-present) as a member of the Michigan Football Strength and Conditioning staff, including the 2023 season as the team’s associate director. He also spent two years as a member of Herbert’s staff at Arkansas before joining the Wolverines’ staff. Prior to working with the Razorbacks, Tress was a member of the University of Alabama strength and conditioning staff when the program played in the CFP National Championship Game, winning the title in 2015 while losing in the 2016 contest

A bit lost in the news cycle is the ability to hang onto Abigail O'Connor as Director of Perfomance Nutrition... Don't underplay the role that proper nutrition has had, hand in hand, with the strength program. 

Tress, O'Connor and Moore were all hired in 2018, so there is a long history and trust here.

Disappointed to lose Herbert, but we have to hope for the best now. Onwards.

https://mgoblue.com/news/2024/1/29/football-moore-names-tress-as-director-of-strength-and-conditioning-retains-dietitian-o-connor

I was a fan of Ben Herbert, and everyone seemed to rave about him but let's get a little perspective here. Herbert was originally a Bret Bielema guy following him from Wisconsin to Arkansas and getting let go when Bielema was fired. For all of the accolades, Herbert was the SC guy for the 2020 season. 

What exactly does anyone know about Justin Tress? Before Mike Macdonald was made the DC at Michigan, he was the linebackers coach for the Ravens. Given an opportunity, Macdonald succeeded. Maybe Tress is just as good and years later when we look back at this, everyone will be singing the praises of Tress.

Michigan also retained Abigail O'Connor as Director of Football Performance and Nutrition. It was rumored that Harbaugh also wanted O'Connor to come to the Chargers, but Warde was able to retain her. 

For those talking about budget, one of the things Moore has talked about was beefing up the scouting department in regard to recruiting. Finally, what good is a 5-year contract which makes you the highest paid person in your field, if the person can break the contract to take a similar position in the NFL?

I can't read that paywalled article - what did Balas say it would have taken to keep him? Not sure whether to really trust him these days really regardless though 

This is all on Warde. Offering a former co-worker a job at your new company is pretty common, so I don't blame Harbaugh. If Michigan would've made a good offer, Herbert would've stayed. However, that would require Warde to actually do something, so we never had a shot. 

It's unfortunate that the regents and president are letting Warde hamstring the first time head coach we just promoted. 

Wasn't herbert in the second year of a 5 year contract, one that made him the highest paid S&C coach in the NCAA?   If so, fuck him!   

• We're not using our money for a NIL program. 
• We're not using as much of our money to pay for the head coach.
• We're not using our money to keep our S&C coordinator or defensive coordinator.

Where does all the Big Ten money go? Sounds like we're saving a lot of it this year. Unfortunately, that doesn't help the fans in any way whatsoever - ticket prices aren't going to drop. Maybe some of the athletic department admin will get a bonus? There is nothing that will "trickle down" to the fan experience. If they're not using the savings to make the team better, we get nothing from his austerity plan. As a fan this is very frustrating, and the fan relationship with Warde is not salvageable at this point. Whether or not it's his fault, I think Michigan has to move on.  

I thought the NFL does not have S&C coaches. I thought it was all individual  trainers. Who will he be training? The QB? Another dumb move by Warde!

Of course this is on Warde Manuel.  In turn it's on the Board and President.  They didn't do what it took to keep Harbaugh.  Now, they didn't do what it took to keep Herbert.  Neither needs Michigan to be elite and successful.  Michigan does need both Harbaugh and Herbert to be elite.  Warde, Board, and President seem to have other priorities than to keep an elite football program rolling.  I'm guessing those priorities involve saving money, being arrogant, DEI, amongst that in total make them idiots.  Any smart University administration would keep an Elite Head Coach, Elite Strength Coach, and furnish them with whatever resources needed.  Oh well, we are stuck with idiots.  

Warde Manuel is an incompetent buffoon. He's cheap. Not frugal. Cheap. And he's reactive not proactive. He's always two to three steps behind where he should be.

Warde Manuel should have been fired a year ago, after the Mel Pearson debacle and after Jim Harbaugh was the only top cfb coach in the country who did not get an extension. That is an AD's #1 job, to hire and retain the best talent. Warde doesn't seem to understand that. Or he is incapable of doing it. Holding up a contract extension for probably the best cfb coach in the country, a Michigan legend as a player to boot, over buyout language is malpractice.

Write Warde Manuel a check, give him a gold watch and pay for his moving truck to Ft. Myers. Michigan cannot afford another year with Warde Manuel at the helm of Michigan Athletics.

#FireWardeNow!!

Warde really pissed me off when he finally agreed to everything that JH wanted in a new contract, only after he knew JH was leaving for the Chargers! Oh Michigan fans, I did everything I could do to keep JH! Complete BS. That was my last straw with Warde.

I believe Michigan is cheap cheap. Warde clearly should be removed. 

I also blame Harbaugh for raiding the best things about Michigan. 

We won a national championship because of those traits (win at all cost, then spin the narrative) im over the spin though which is what this is.

Whoever helped 245 lb Josiah Stewart be strong enough to push the 350 lb Alabama OL into Jalen Milroe's running lane on the final play of the Rose Bowl, that is who I want as S&C coach.

Holy moly, that was an incredibly impressive display of raw power.