Michigan Daily: Muckalt "terminated without cause"
Per a Michigan Daily article today, former assistant hockey coach Bill Muckalt was "terminated without cause."
"Termination without cause” can seem like tricky language because it implies that Michigan did not have reason to fire Muckalt. In reality, “termination without cause” just means the program wanted to go in a new direction. That’s a right protected in many Michigan Athletics contracts, including Muckalt’s 2021 contract extension. The language doesn’t eliminate the possibility that both parties agreed to part ways, but the language of Naurato’s letter — “relieved of your duties” — suggests a more one-sided affair."
I don't follow the hockey program as closely as many do here so perhaps this is a nothingburger, but the Daily article seems to suggest it might be otherwise.
It sounds like.. you’re fired. He didn’t do anything which forced his termination - it is just a new direction. Time to freshen up the resume.
Which entitles him to his full salary of his contract, I would assume.
August 3rd, 2023 at 11:30 PM ^
Correct, less any offsets, and he has to show that he is actively seeking employment in the field.
This would be an interesting clause in his contract. “At Will” employees usually don’t have that clause… Wishing him well.
August 3rd, 2023 at 10:53 PM ^
Yeah, it mostly read as someone being let go because he wasn't needed anymore. It's not fun and I'm sure Muckalt isn't happy but this is the equivalent of "we're letting you go due to a company reorganization" in corporate speak.
August 3rd, 2023 at 11:16 PM ^
As Dilbert would say “let’s put on our reorg boots”
Just don't put Milton in the basement.
August 4th, 2023 at 10:37 AM ^
The people to cake ratio is too big.
August 3rd, 2023 at 11:25 PM ^
this is correct
Seems very nothingburgery; we just aren’t privy to the legalese behind the scenes that accompany these contracts.
I suppose it could be a decision by Naurato or the athletic department to finish cleaning house...
But nothing here sounds inconsistent with my take when it happened, which was that Muckalt got passed over when Naurato got hired and it was just a matter of time for him to find something else. I'm speculating while missing some information here, but the scenario I think likeliest goes like this: Muckalt could stay if he really wanted to, but everyone knows that's not likely. Muckalt and Naurato "mutually agree to part ways." But if Muckalt just up and quits, he loses the salary right away; if he stays, Michigan is in an awkward position where they've got a guy on staff who won't stay be staying there and it's hard/weird to hire behind him.
So he is "terminated without cause," guaranteeing his salary level but allowing him to look for work and allowing Naurato to build his staff and the program to move on. Since Muckalt was never going to stay around for this coming year (in my scenario) any other option would either be harsh to him, a guy who IMO deserves to be treated well after soldiering through this past season in difficult circumstances, or harsh to the program, which knows he's moving on but can't say it publicly.
My guess is that the decision was made and using the "terminated without cause" process is actually the best outcome for both the program and for Muckalt. But that's just a guess.
August 3rd, 2023 at 10:33 PM ^
As you put it "just a guess"... but as usual, I think you're spot on.
There was nothing in the WilmerHale report suggesting Muckalt should have been fired last year for cause... but as you pointed out, his association with Pearson runs deep enough that the AD passed him over for the interim HC gig.
I half expected Muckalt to change jobs when Naurato was selected, but with it being so late in the summer most college/pro coaching benches were already full. By staying on for 8 months and being let go without cause, he has been awarded the option to collect salary for another year and take his time finding his next job. Additionally the "without cause" means there's no stigma attached to him... just a new HC wanting to go in a different direction which happens all the time. It's all a win-win for both Muckalt and Michigan hockey versus him departing in August of 2022.
Your and Stephen's analysis seem spot on to me. I feel a bit bad for Muckalt, given his standing within the Michigan program history and his probable desire to be head coach here himself, but circumstances didn't work out that way. I hope he lands a HC job before too long.
August 3rd, 2023 at 11:46 PM ^
If you are doing the dude a favor why wouldn’t you allow him to resign and agree to pay him.
August 4th, 2023 at 12:32 AM ^
At my institution, this is a rather common language for terminating someone’s employment but agreeing to pay them their full contract. If he resigns, a state institution cannot arbitrarily decide to pay him the full contract.
This is Naurato’s program now and it is up to him to determine the direction he wants to take them (seems to prefer analytic driven coaches and support staff). He’s not obligated to retain any holdovers from Mel’s staff, similar to how a new football head coaching hire wouldn’t be required (or expected) to retain members of the previous staff.
So yeah, it’s a big nothing-burger. Muckalt doesn’t fit the vision Naurato has moving forward. Simple as that.
"With cause" doesn't mean "without a reason". It means there was no misconduct. And "mutually parted ways" is just code for "we're making it less embarrassing for someone". Not only does this seem like a nothingburger, it seems like an Impossible nothingburger because there was never even a hint of the possibility of meat.
If I had to guess Naurato wanted him out. There was no chemistry between the two of them on the bench during the games. He probably didn't have the power to do it until the interim tag was lifted.
Not only did he likely not have the power, but it would have made no sense to fire him at that point in time. Finding an adequate replacement at that stage of the year would be incredibly difficult, not to mention further destabilizing the team.
August 3rd, 2023 at 11:03 PM ^
Michigan decided Bill should spend more time with his family.
When you love someone, sometimes you have to help them make good decisions.
August 4th, 2023 at 11:23 AM ^
"Dr. Muckalt... paging Dr. Muckalt..."
I'm very close to a lot of folks within the Hockey organization. This was a power move. Muckalt should probably have been in the HC spot, the current HC knew it, and therefore the competition was booted.