Hurricanes coach Randy Shannon signs four-year deal

After months — even years — of waiting and wondering when and if he would get a contract extension, Randy Shannon has been rewarded with a new four-year contract, the university announced Wednesday night. Shannon was about to enter his final season of the original four-year deal. “There’s no other place I’d rather be than coaching Hurricanes football,” Shannon said in a statement. “I’m excited about the momentum we continue to build and our strong recruiting classes. We have dedicated student-athletes and an experienced and committed coaching staff, a strong athletic program and the university leadership’s support — all important components consistent with long-term success.” The financial terms of the contract were not announced. It is believed Shannon started his first season as the coach in 2007 with a salary approaching $800,000 and made about $1 million in 2009. The Associated Press reported that Shannon’s new salary will be “around the midpoint” of coaches in the Atlantic Coast Conference. — Miami Herald

Hurrianes coach Randy Shannon close to contract extension

A UM official said the school is finally close on a contract extension for coach Randy Shannon, barring any late surprises, and noted the process has been difficult because of the demands of Shannon’s agent, Neil Cornrich. A UM person said Cornrich inexplicably cited UM’s lack of an on-campus stadium as a reason to pay Shannon more. UM, eager to get the deal done before the May recruiting period, has offered about $1.4 million per year in base salary (below the $1.75 million median for Atlantic Coast Conference coaches) but bridged the gap by offering more attainable incentives. Shannon has one year left on his deal; the new deal likely would run through 2013 or ‘14. – Miami Herald

Miami coach Randy Shannon worried about being lame duck

What is irrefutable is that Randy Shannon, who took over at the University of Miami in 2007, is the second-lowest paid coach among 12 ACC teams. Shannon is entering the final season of his four-year contract, and while the coach and university officials insist a deal will get done this off-season — with one UM source saying something could be in place by Thursday, the start of an important recruiting evaluation period — so far nothing has been signed. Any delay beyond the start of the 2010 season on Sept. 2 could provide a major distraction for a team that has a murderous three-game road trip scheduled — at Ohio State, Pittsburgh and Clemson — after their opener against Florida A&M. Shannon realizes the pitfalls that could befall his team if he enters the season as a lame duck. “That’s a tough thing during the season to go through,” Shannon said. “You’re going to get the question every day. If you’re winning, the press is going to ask, ‘Do they really want you?’ And if you’re losing, they’re going to say, ‘Well, the university doesn’t want you.’ It’s a bad deal either way.” – Palm Beach Post

Seminoles, Hurricanes to SEC?

There can never really be enough realignment talk between January and September. Other than spring practice and fall camp, there is not a whole lot other than these rumors to keep a college football fan going. So here’s one more to think about: could the Miami Hurricanes and Florida State Seminoles be heading to the SEC? Probably not, but if the Big Ten makes a big move and expands to 16 teams, don’t expect the SEC to be far behind in expanding. – Miami Herald

Randy Shannon having issues on Miami contract extension

Salary isn’t the only stumbling block in UM’s contract talks with coach Randy Shannon. They also have not seen eye-to-eye on terms of a buyout if he’s fired. Is Shannon frustrated? “No,” he said. “I don’t make it personal. It’s just business.” A UM trustee said the school increased its offer to $1.4 million annually in base salary but that Shannon wants about $2 million. Five Atlantic Coast Conference football coaches make $2 million or more. … Shannon, who has one year left on his deal at less than $1 million annually, said the contract situation has made recruiting a “challenge. Do other schools use it? Yeah, they use it against us. I have confidence that it will get worked out.” UM athletic director Kirby Hocutt said, “We’re working on it,” but wouldn’t elaborate. – Miami Herald

Why Randy Shannon is mad

Randy Shannon’s contract negotiation has been going on, and on, and on, for months, and still he’s entering the final year of his contract. Why? Because Miami is a small, private school that does sports - even football - on the cheap. I wrote about the issue in a column for Thursday’s paper. Miami’s extension proposal of around $1.3 million a year, according to a source, would make him the 11th-highest-paid coach in the 12-team Atlantic Coach Conference. – Sun-Herald

Randy Shannon negotiating new Miami contract

Randy Miami has been going back-and-forth with head coach Randy Shannon’s agent on contract terms, with the process taking longer than expected, and the agent said to be seeking a salary more on par with other Atlantic Coast Conference coaches. But UM athletic director Kirby Hocutt said the extension — adding three or four years to the one left — “will get done in the coming weeks.” – Miami Herald

Randy Shannon still in line for extension?

Before the North Carolina game, a Miami Board of Trustee member said the administration planned to discuss a contract extension with Randy Shannon (beyond next season) after UM’s Nov. 28 regular-season finale. Unclear is whether a poor finish could risk that. – Miami Herald

Notre Dame ducking Miami series?

Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick said in April he wanted to renew the football series with Miami. But Swarbrick now isn’t returning calls, and UM believes he’s no longer interested because he never responded to two UM proposals (including a home-and-home series and/or a neutral site game). – Miami Herald

Randy Shannon irks Miami coordinator

A Miami official confirmed that offensive coordinator Mark Whipple indeed was upset late in the first half Saturday because coach Randy Shannon called UM’s last timeout with 20 seconds left. Whipple had a play designed to gain 10 to 15 yards, and planned to call a timeout after that. – Miami Herald

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