From Knowlton's email today:

I want to conclude with a note about my future here at Cal. Chancellor Christ and I have finalized an agreement that will allow me to remain as your athletic director through 2029. I am so grateful for the Chancellor's trust and confidence. I love our Cal family and the direction we are heading, and I am excited to hopefully spend the rest of my career here in Berkeley.
Go Bears!

Jim Knowlton
Director of Athletics

Hmmm<imagine an ellipsis here - the forum software or maybe autocorrect keeps removing it>

I guess I'll hold my thoughts until I have a chance to digest this news more. In the mean time, I know others won't, so I'll go make some popcorn.

I would be interested in hearing from the Chancellor about his accomplishments that deserved such an extension in his contract.

SonomanA1 said:

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From Knowlton's email today:

I want to conclude with a note about my future here at Cal. Chancellor Christ and I have finalized an agreement that will allow me to remain as your athletic director through 2029. I am so grateful for the Chancellor's trust and confidence. I love our Cal family and the direction we are heading, and I am excited to hopefully spend the rest of my career here in Berkeley.
Go Bears!

Jim Knowlton
Director of Athletics

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TypiCAL. No wonder we suck in basketball and have a hard time competing in football. Yuk!

SonomanA1 said:

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From Knowlton's email today:

I want to conclude with a note about my future here at Cal. Chancellor Christ and I have finalized an agreement that will allow me to remain as your athletic director through 2029. I am so grateful for the Chancellor's trust and confidence. I love our Cal family and the direction we are heading, and I am excited to hopefully spend the rest of my career here in Berkeley.
Go Bears!

Jim Knowlton
Director of Athletics

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Eight more years of substandard results.

The cheering you hear is from the other eleven schools in the P12.

Does this mean Cal will actually be in a conference and have an athletic department in 2029? Maybe they know something we don't.

I was checking the calendar hoping it was April Fools.

This is gross negligence on the part of Christ. Nothing justifies this, even if we were afraid Knowlton was going to jump to another school. We never gave any coach or administrator an 8 year extension. Christ is 77 and does not even have an 8 year extension (she would be 85 at the end). why tie your hands and the hands of even her possible successor?

This is especially true given the rapidly changing landscape of college athletics.

This is the worst news I have heard about Cal athletics.since I can remember. Our future looks pretty bleak right now unless the PAC-12 commissioner saves us.

calumnus said:

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This is the worst news I have heard about Cal athletics.since I can remember.

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Hopefully Jim will be spending every weekend wining and dining TV execs and ADs of big time schools up in Napa or SF and following that up with some golf at Pebble Beach until the conference realignment business settles.

'Wouldn't t be great if you can make a trip like this every year or so?! You can... if you invite us in. And guess what, unlike the furd, Cal actually has fans"

Cool. This'll give him the chance to get into Guinness Book of World Records for "Hirer of the Most Cal Basketball Coaches"!

Oregon State being better than us in all of the most high profile sports plays well with the chancellor, I see.

Why did people here have problems with Sandy Barbour again?

BearForce2 said:

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Why did people here have problems with Sandy Barbour again?

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She was hated on this site mostly because she fired Tedford and hired Sonny Dykes. Then she left for Penn State. Her sex and/or sexual orientation may have played a role for some people.

BearForce2 said:

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Why did people here have problems with Sandy Barbour again?

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Mostly because of her creation of $445 million in Cal AD debt with no viable plan to pay it off. Hiring Dykes after firing Tedford didn't help.

71Bear said:

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SonomanA1 said:

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From Knowlton's email today:

I want to conclude with a note about my future here at Cal. Chancellor Christ and I have finalized an agreement that will allow me to remain as your athletic director through 2029. I am so grateful for the Chancellor's trust and confidence. I love our Cal family and the direction we are heading, and I am excited to hopefully spend the rest of my career here in Berkeley.
Go Bears!

Jim Knowlton
Director of Athletics

---

Eight more years of substandard results.

The cheering you hear is from the other eleven schools in the P12.

---

You have been around Cal a long time. Has there been a time that the AD and the University had a better relationship, including the re-working of some of the debt and the adding of a "grad school" program that specifically helps out athletics?

calumnus said:

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BearForce2 said:

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Why did people here have problems with Sandy Barbour again?

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She was hated on this site mostly because she fired Tedford and hired Sonny Dykes. Then she left for Penn State. Her sex and/or sexual orientation may have played a role for some people.

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She wasn't hated for firing Tedford. She would've been hated had she not fired Tedford.

As for Dykes, all I can think about is the footage of him exiting a private plane. I don't remember Wilcox ghetto girl the private plane treatment.

"Wilcox ghetto girl"?

Wait 'till Word gets out!

Bobodeluxe said:

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"Wilcox ghetto girl"?

Wait 'till Word gets out!

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I'm guessing Okaydo is autocorrect's biatch.

mbBear said:

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71Bear said:

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SonomanA1 said:

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From Knowlton's email today:

I want to conclude with a note about my future here at Cal. Chancellor Christ and I have finalized an agreement that will allow me to remain as your athletic director through 2029. I am so grateful for the Chancellor's trust and confidence. I love our Cal family and the direction we are heading, and I am excited to hopefully spend the rest of my career here in Berkeley.
Go Bears!

Jim Knowlton
Director of Athletics

---

Eight more years of substandard results.

The cheering you hear is from the other eleven schools in the P12.

---

You have been around Cal a long time. Has there been a time that the AD and the University had a better relationship, including the re-working of some of the debt and the adding of a "grad school" program that specifically helps out athletics?

---

I'm not interested in the person that wins "Miss Congeniality". I am interested in the person that wins the top prize.

Knowlton is a schmoozer without the first clue about how to field a championship program.

Back around 2005 I had a sidekick and could fire off text messages with pretty good efficiency. I've been autocorrect's biatch since my first iphone. I'm going to guess most of us have similar stories.

mbBear said:

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71Bear said:

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SonomanA1 said:

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From Knowlton's email today:

I want to conclude with a note about my future here at Cal. Chancellor Christ and I have finalized an agreement that will allow me to remain as your athletic director through 2029. I am so grateful for the Chancellor's trust and confidence. I love our Cal family and the direction we are heading, and I am excited to hopefully spend the rest of my career here in Berkeley.
Go Bears!

Jim Knowlton
Director of Athletics

---

Eight more years of substandard results.

The cheering you hear is from the other eleven schools in the P12.

---

You have been around Cal a long time. Has there been a time that the AD and the University had a better relationship, including the re-working of some of the debt and the adding of a "grad school" program that specifically helps out athletics?

---

Christ hired and clearly really likes Knowlton (just like Knowlton hired and clearly really likes Fox). "Re-working of the debt" (shifting it over to money that will come from academics) was a huge gift to Knowlton, but the same could have been done for literally anyone else as AD. The university still has the stadium debt even if the AD doesn't. It is not something Knowlton did.

The 8 year extension of Knowlton's contract, to a point where Christ will be 85 and likely long retired, seems like an irresponsible gift. I cannot see how that is justified with so much riding on the next few years. If next year it appears we are clearly headed in the wrong direction with Knowlton we just have to stick it out 7 more years?

Sandy Barbour didn't handle that move to drop some sports very well, most notably baseball. As far as our Athletic directors go, she was at least average, probably better than average. So is Knowlton. Helps to have the Chancellor he has.

71Bear said:

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mbBear said:

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71Bear said:

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SonomanA1 said:

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From Knowlton's email today:

I want to conclude with a note about my future here at Cal. Chancellor Christ and I have finalized an agreement that will allow me to remain as your athletic director through 2029. I am so grateful for the Chancellor's trust and confidence. I love our Cal family and the direction we are heading, and I am excited to hopefully spend the rest of my career here in Berkeley.
Go Bears!

Jim Knowlton
Director of Athletics

---

Eight more years of substandard results.

The cheering you hear is from the other eleven schools in the P12.

---

You have been around Cal a long time. Has there been a time that the AD and the University had a better relationship, including the re-working of some of the debt and the adding of a "grad school" program that specifically helps out athletics?

---

I'm not interested in the person that wins "Miss Congeniality". I am interested in the person that wins the top prize.

Knowlton is a schmoozer without the first clue about how to field a championship program.

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I'll take a $40 million schmoozer everyday. This ain't Tuscaloosa.

Big C said:

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Sandy Barbour didn't handle that move to drop some sports very well, most notably baseball. As far as our Athletic directors go, she was at least average, probably better than average. So is Knowlton. Helps to have the Chancellor he has.

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Like most others, I was pissed at Barbour for her handling of baseball and the other threatened teams. This, besides the fact that I correctly guessed that she was spurring the backers of those sports to pony up. I give her kudos for being willing to take it on the chin, when she could have just ducked.

Eastern Oregon Bear said:

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Bobodeluxe said:

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"Wilcox ghetto girl"?

Wait 'till Word gets out!

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I'm guessing Okaydo is autocorrect's biatch.

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Yes, typing on my iPad, which changes a lot of stuff.

My personal worst was an email that I sent to some friends and acquaintances and to sign off I kiddingly typed "Darth Vader". After the message went out, I reread my email and saw that auto correct had changed that to "Death Voyeur"

okaydo said:

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Eastern Oregon Bear said:

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Bobodeluxe said:

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"Wilcox ghetto girl"?

Wait 'till Word gets out!

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I'm guessing Okaydo is autocorrect's biatch.

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Yes, typing on my iPad, which changes a lot of stuff.

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I completely understand. I use an iPad for much of my posting and autocorrect has gotten me a few times. I try to reread everything before posting but still occasionally miss something. I also find my fat fingers often mi**** keys and introduce misspelled words or insert my typing into random locations in the post including quoted material that I didn't want to change. I hate autocorrect but it corrects misspelled words enough that I don't want to turn it off. Just now my iPad inserted "turn it off" right before "I completely understand." Why? I don't know. Technology is a blessing and a curse. Or at least it often makes me curse.

calumnus said:

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mbBear said:

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71Bear said:

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SonomanA1 said:

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From Knowlton's email today:

I want to conclude with a note about my future here at Cal. Chancellor Christ and I have finalized an agreement that will allow me to remain as your athletic director through 2029. I am so grateful for the Chancellor's trust and confidence. I love our Cal family and the direction we are heading, and I am excited to hopefully spend the rest of my career here in Berkeley.
Go Bears!

Jim Knowlton
Director of Athletics

---

Eight more years of substandard results.

The cheering you hear is from the other eleven schools in the P12.

---

You have been around Cal a long time. Has there been a time that the AD and the University had a better relationship, including the re-working of some of the debt and the adding of a "grad school" program that specifically helps out athletics?

---

Christ hired and clearly really likes Knowlton (just like Knowlton hired and clearly really likes Fox). "Re-working of the debt" (shifting it over to money that will come from academics) was a huge gift to Knowlton, but the same could have been done for literally anyone else as AD. The university still has the stadium debt even if the AD doesn't. It is not something Knowlton did.

The 8 year extension of Knowlton's contract, to a point where Christ will be 85 and likely long retired, seems like an irresponsible gift. I cannot see how that is justified with so much riding on the next few years. If next year it appears we are clearly headed in the wrong direction with Knowlton we just have to stick it out 7 more years?

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I don't care about the "what if," it got done under Knowlton.
A grad program designed to be able to keep athletes who graduate could have been done under any AD, but it was done under Knowlton.
The Cameron Institute could have been created by past AD's, but it was done under Knowlton.
The quick response of the "Golden" program as Cal deals with NIL was done by Knowlton.
The inherited Title IX issues, especially Field Hockey, has been handled by Knowlton.
He liked Fox...we don't know if he still does. Fox may fail, but there isn't an AD worth their salt who hasn't gone through hoop coaches, and survived unless there was a cover up of something awful.
I don't know why the extension was 8 years, vs. 5,6 or 7. Was there a reason to believe another offer on the table? Hey, maybe not. But there are things happening with Knowlton. I actually don't find him to be overly "schmoozy" if that is a word....I think he is trying to play chess in a position that has often had people struggling with checkers.

GivemTheAxe said:

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My personal worst was an email that I sent to some friends and acquaintances and to sign off I kiddingly typed "Darth Vader". After the message went out, I reread my email and saw that auto correct had changed that to "Death Voyeur"

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Nice.

mbBear said:

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calumnus said:

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mbBear said:

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71Bear said:

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SonomanA1 said:

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From Knowlton's email today:

I want to conclude with a note about my future here at Cal. Chancellor Christ and I have finalized an agreement that will allow me to remain as your athletic director through 2029. I am so grateful for the Chancellor's trust and confidence. I love our Cal family and the direction we are heading, and I am excited to hopefully spend the rest of my career here in Berkeley.
Go Bears!

Jim Knowlton
Director of Athletics

---

Eight more years of substandard results.

The cheering you hear is from the other eleven schools in the P12.

---

You have been around Cal a long time. Has there been a time that the AD and the University had a better relationship, including the re-working of some of the debt and the adding of a "grad school" program that specifically helps out athletics?

---

Christ hired and clearly really likes Knowlton (just like Knowlton hired and clearly really likes Fox). "Re-working of the debt" (shifting it over to money that will come from academics) was a huge gift to Knowlton, but the same could have been done for literally anyone else as AD. The university still has the stadium debt even if the AD doesn't. It is not something Knowlton did.

The 8 year extension of Knowlton's contract, to a point where Christ will be 85 and likely long retired, seems like an irresponsible gift. I cannot see how that is justified with so much riding on the next few years. If next year it appears we are clearly headed in the wrong direction with Knowlton we just have to stick it out 7 more years?

---

I don't care about the "what if," it got done under Knowlton.
A grad program designed to be able to keep athletes who graduate could have been done under any AD, but it was done under Knowlton.
The Cameron Institute could have been created by past AD's, but it was done under Knowlton.
The quick response of the "Golden" program as Cal deals with NIL was done by Knowlton.
The inherited Title IX issues, especially Field Hockey, has been handled by Knowlton.
He liked Fox...we don't know if he still does. Fox may fail, but there isn't an AD worth their salt who hasn't gone through hoop coaches, and survived unless there was a cover up of something awful.
I don't know why the extension was 8 years, vs. 5,6 or 7. Was there a reason to believe another offer on the table? Hey, maybe not. But there are things happening with Knowlton. I actually don't find him to be overly "schmoozy" if that is a word....I think he is trying to play chess in a position that has often had people struggling with checkers.

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Nothing but Bells and Whistles.

My retort is simple. Cal just finished its worst year in athletics in the last twenty+ plus years. That is how the guy should be measured.

The turning point for me was how he handled the men's bb coach hire. By outsourcing it to a group that had no interest in the process, other than pocketing a wad of cash, he ended up with a retread who has performed exactly as expected - horribly. That was a significant indication that he is in way over his head. In essence, he is a Bowlsby in a world of Sankey's.

bearister said:

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The good news is that if things get even worse it will only cost $30,000,000+ to buy his contract out.
Is there is a Q theory relating to this extension?

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This may be the most upsurd thing I have seen on Bear Insider that I have not said

Jim took a pay cut during C-19, but his salary is around $800k (sort like coaches, the University pays around $300K and donors or sponsors pay the rest). If he was fired in 2023. He has six years left times $800K, which when calculate in my world is $4.9 million. But that is not how sports contracts work. Bill Self has a lifetime contract - does that mean he gets paid $5 million plus every year for the rest of his life? Of course not. College sports contracts are like pre-nups. Jim probably gets the standard one or two year guaranteed payment, which means severance is now down to a much as a $1.6 million payoff, assuming no mitigation. Could Jim get another AD or comparable job in his mid-60's? I don't know, but there usually is a settlement in that regard, so Jim is getting probably gets around $1 million. No reasonable school would pay for the entire remainder of the contract unless they had someone very inexperienced negotiating the contact, and as far as I know the guy that negotiated Wiking Jones contract is long gone.

To add to the pre-nup nature of the contract: Let's say Wilcox knocks it out of the park and men's basketball somehow becomes a legitimate program. Someone will offer Knowlton a lot more money and the reality is he can get out of his personal services contract, perhaps subject to a payment of a penalty. Too large of penalty, and the penalty is forfeiture and unenforceable. Also while Jim may be spry, he is in his early 60s, and there is no guaranty he wants to wait until 2029 to retire, and no college is going to try to enforce a penalty in that situation.

The all bets are off: Most contacts have standard language mentioning that NCAA violations on their watch could cancel their current and future paychecks, potentially nullifying a high-dollar buyout.

It is OK. And I think the reason for 8 years is PRECISELY because the chancellor is 77. As anyone with any experience knows - you gotta get that resume revised when the boss you love is nearing retirement cause the new sheriff could be an AHOLE and you have absolutely no control.

Proof for JK will be the hire after Fox. My HOPE is that now a few years in he has a better grasp for what works and what Cal needs to look for in respect to someone who can play the "inside game" while still being an effective recruiter while also being "in budget." That isn't easy but it isn't impossible. The replacement of Mark Fox can not come soon enough.

BearoutEast67 said:

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BearForce2 said:

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Why did people here have problems with Sandy Barbour again?

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Mostly because of her creation of $445 million in Cal AD debt with no viable plan to pay it off. Hiring Dykes after firing Tedford didn't help.

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The Dykes teams were not good, but her master plan was to put butts in the seats with his Air Raid spectacles and it kinda worked, late-night kickoffs aside. We can have awesome defenses under Wilcox and most of us here will admire and watch that, but if we can't score points then we're not packing the stadium on Saturdays, and thus the finances will stagnate.

As for Knowlton, if we're not in the tournament (men's and women's) in the next couple of years, and/or football plateaus at 8-5, etc. then we're going to have to clean house on campus in a few places, unless our non-revenue sports are doing extremely well, but I am not optimistic.

Strykur said:

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BearoutEast67 said:

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BearForce2 said:

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Why did people here have problems with Sandy Barbour again?

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Mostly because of her creation of $445 million in Cal AD debt with no viable plan to pay it off. Hiring Dykes after firing Tedford didn't help.

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The Dykes teams were not good, but her master plan was to put butts in the seats with his Air Raid spectacles and it kinda worked, late-night kickoffs aside. We can have awesome defenses under Wilcox and most of us here will admire and watch that, but if we can't score points then we're not packing the stadium on Saturdays, and thus the finances will stagnate.

As for Knowlton, if we're not in the tournament (men's and women's) in the next couple of years, and/or football plateaus at 8-5, etc. then we're going to have to clean house on campus in a few places, unless our non-revenue sports are doing extremely well, but I am not optimistic.

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I don't agree with the premise. People will show up when we win consistently.