I wanted to let some time go by before reflecting on the situation.
To begin with we now know who the insiders are. Someone with a user name about Firing Linc was way ahead of the curve on this, certainly more than I thought was possbile! Also, whoever asked about a mass exodus seemed to know some stuff too!
Moves like this seem to bring out the worst in social media. Suddenly everyone who is checked out of GB basketball has an opinion about the coaching or the finances of the program.
I find the move out of D1 rumors being thrown around, especially by UWM people were the most annoying. Do I doubt the idea was discussed by the university recently? No I don't, especially in this environment. However, that has always been a discussion point that the university revisits every few years. Firing Linc had nothing to do with the level GB will be competing at in the future. Hell, if anything it proves the opposite because Linc has proven to be a good D2 coach.
This is just me reading the tea leaves so take it with a grain of salt. GB has really good facilities for basketball, volleyball, softball and soccer. They have the start of good facilities for cross country or golf but need some year round help for those. They don't have facilities for tennis and the swimming facility needs help. Nordic skiing isn't a Horizon League sport. So it seems simple to me that the program is moving forward with programs they have the best opportunity to do well with and not some drop in level.
I don't feel that role players leaving this team is indicative of anything. Yes, I am sure some of those players don't like Linc or his style. That is probably part of why they never reached the levels they wanted to do. That liking and trust has to go both ways. For the most part Linc has only lost role players to transfer in his time. That is no different than every other school that tries to play competitive D1 basketball.
I know the Brown's had their issues, Cooper and Hurdle had a little spray paint fun while several of guys have been cited up for weed issues. I am not aware of the team being a major community eye sore though off the court. The people I talk to have always said we had mostly good dudes who tried hard to graduate. The academic side has always been a feather in his cap.
Ok as for the action of parting ways itself. Linc has a lets be playing well at the end of the year mentality. You know what? So does the athletic director and majority of the Horizon League. If anything we should demand an attitude adjustment from the program going forward because if you treat the program like you don't need to pay attention until they get hot in March, guess what happens? PEOPLE DON'T PAY ATTENTION UNTIL YOU GET HOT IN MARCH!
The timing of this move is dumb. The last I checked in the Horizon League standings the 4 worst teams were UWM, CSU, UDM and IUPUI. Also, known as the last 4 teams to hire a coach in July, July, June and September. So this hiring late recipe looks to normally end up in a bad batch. If the reasons for the move are true then it is even more stupid, wait until next spring and do a normal process. Hiring a guy virtually who is going to have to build and retain a roster virtually seems like a recipe for short term failure.
Linc hasn't won the conference regular season but he finally brought in some pieces that might have actually done that. An athletic big body who can shoot has finally been found.
The current athletic director is the one who added the 4th place clause to the contract. Not one Phoenix fan I know thinks that bar is high enough. However, firing a guy who meets the bar you set is a bad look. Also, I am not sure Green Bay is the type of community that appreciates some back door sneaking out of paying a man the university had publicly committed to via his extension clause. At the end of the day I am sure the settlement is already figured out but not paying the man his full sum is shady. It actually could set a bad precedent for the AD moving forward.
In summary, Linc was a good man with a slightly flawed system for Green Bay. I think the best was yet to come for him but it won't be in GB. I wish him well and hopefully he signs up for a social media account so he can post some pictures of spending the university's settlement money on a kick ass vacation.