SEC commissioner discusses recent coaching carousel, impact on athletes

With unprecedented coaching turnover this offseason, the carousel is in full-swing. However, the quick turnaround from regular season to new job has left many upset with the current system. As teams begin bowl preparation – and possible CFP preparation in Notre Dame’s case – coaches are hitting the recruiting trail with a new logo on their collared shirt.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey joined The Paul Finebaum Show from the SEC Championship in Atlanta to discuss the coaching carousel. During an interview, the two discussed the recent shift and how it impacts incoming college players.

“It’s raised any number of issues,” Sankey told Finebaum. “No. 1, the timing of coaching changes – and this is not something new – we saw this now since really 2017-2018. The emergence of an early signing period has caused earlier decisions. People want to have a head coach in place in advance of the early signing date, which is two and a half weeks away. We predicted that. That’s not something that was unforeseeable. And do we have to change? We’ll see if others want to bring that back to the table.”

The early signing period starts on Dec. 15 this year, allowing athletes to sign their letter of intent before the spring semester. This chance opens up the opportunity to enroll early, allowing freshmen to participate in offseason workouts and spring practice before their first season.

Greg Sankey on college football finance

Greg Sankey believes another aspect of the coaching carousel is the financial impact of buyouts and big-time contracts across the country. Multiple coaches have surpassed $90 million in future money with new deals and extensions, shattering previous records. Sankey discussed the impact of the past year with Paul Finebaum, pointing to the future.

“Financially, we worked really hard last year to keep this conference as whole as possible,” said Sankey. “One of the misnomers up front is that we just played football for financial purposes. We would’ve been really healthy if just circumstances dictated. But we had young people who wanted to play, it’s about their lives and their future.”

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was not felt on the coaching carousel this season, with the unprecedented exchange of money.

“Local boards, local governing bodies made decisions about circumstances and people that are right for them,” said Sankey. “That produces Brian Kelly at LSU, you saw Lincoln Riley move out to USC, you saw some 10-year contracts offered in the conference up north – at Michigan State and Penn State – to guys who were identified, at least in media reports, as being potential targets here. So it’s clear that things have changed, that people want to attract the right kind of person and make a commitment.”