Bill Fennelly

[acoustimac]

No mention of auto rollover here. Bill’s intent was to retire after next season and the roster was obviously constructed before the ongoing mass attrition to align with his retirement.

Bill Fennelly agrees to two-year extension

Bill Fennelly, head coach of the Iowa State women’s basketball team, has reached an agreement to add two more years to his contract. The terms of the deal are currently unknown, but it extends Fennelly’s deal through the 2026-27 season. Athletics Director Jamie Pollard expressed his excitement...

iowastatedaily.com

The “auto-rollover” is just part of the so called lifetime contract Fennelly has. The extensions are the legal and formal side of that. They just happen, but have to be agreed to and formalized in relation to terms. All these years the “lifetime” thing became more myth than real, but JP has essentially said BF could coach at ISU as long as he wants to be there.

 

[acoustimac]

No offense to Blum, but I'd like to see some proof that someone is getting $1 million for anything.

Talk to TCU. Most estimates I’ve seen have her getting between 750k to 1 mill for one season. Of course we will never see actual numbers since it doesn’t have to be made public.

 

[cykadelic2]

The “auto-rollover” is just part of the so called lifetime contract Fennelly has. The extensions are the legal and formal side of that. They just happen, but have to be agreed to and formalized in relation to terms. All these years the “lifetime” thing became more myth than real, but JP has essentially said BF could coach at ISU as long as he wants to be there.

Bottom line is that he has one year left on his contract with a $700K buyout.

Looks like both JP and Bill are going to ride this out through next season.

And Bill has been operating for the past year or two knowing full well he wasn't going to coach beyond next season. That has been validated by no traction with 2026 HS recruiting and beyond (Comito being a legacy exception) and 2025-26 roster construction. Obviously 2026-27 roster construction has been blown up by the ongoing attrition and he now has minimal leverage to adequately recruit and backfill from the portal.

 

[Trudie]

I'm just so disappointed if BF returns. I also think he deserves a sincere outpouring for what he has done for the program in the past. But it's time to go.

The cloud of nepotism hanging over the program (real and perceived) leaves a bad taste in my mouth. The circling the wagons that routinely happens by those with a vested interest really grates. Entitlement is not a good look.

 

[NWICY]

Hope she takes the 2 mill and leaves after 1.

I'm guessing the Hawks learned after that FB player did the cash grab and run.

 

[BCClone]

Well, if Bill retained kids, he could have coached his planned final season without adding more than a player or two. JP is doing what he should here.

I’ve heard there is (was now) a player divide. While Bill should hang it up, it was far from all hugs in the locker room. We were going to lose one chunk of the divide no matter who coached. Not a defense of Bill because when these things happen, it means the coaches have lost the locker room basically.

 

[cyclone13]

I’ve heard there is (was now) a player divide. While Bill should hang it up, it was far from all hugs in the locker room. We were going to lose one chunk of the divide no matter who coached. Not a defense of Bill because when these things happen, it means the coaches have lost the locker room basically.

Wonder what caused it - was it due to giving the ball to Audi all the time strategy?

 

[BCClone]

Wonder what caused it - was it due to giving the ball to Audi all the time strategy?

Not sure, very well could be, I was just told a divide happened.

 

[psycln11]

Wonder what caused it - was it due to giving the ball to Audi all the time strategy?

Or lack of holding ALL players on the team to the same standards on the defensive end?

 

[cyfan92]

$0 of rev share should go to WBB until Bill retires. He's still able to save face of he does it before 4/1.

 

[BryceC]

She can go somewhere else, and it will be for the money only. Her WNBA draft stock isn't going to change; she won't move up. Hannah Hidalgo will be number 1, unless JuJu skips her last year. She is currently in the top 5 in two different projections. So, it's not like playing at ISU is hindering her future.

In that case it makes a ton of sense. If you have no future in the sport beyond one more year you should maximize your earnings.

 

[cyputz]

He’s got a dynasty for sure, but he’s tough on the girls.
(I know you weren’t serious)

It is one thing to be tough on his players - however, tough both physically AND mentally can destroy a team

 

[BryceC]

Bill has told Jamie he needs an extension to get kids to sign.

Jamie has told him no extension.

They are not having friendly conversations.

Great job by Jaime.

 

[cyputz]

Or lack of holding ALL players on the team to the same standards on the defensive end?

I truly do not believe it focused on the defensive side (albeit an impact), but on the actual overall strategy of the team.

 

[hiltonisheaven]

I truly do not believe it focused on the defensive side (albeit an impact), but on the actual overall strategy of the team.

Maybe if Bill had hired real assistants instead of all the nepos, there would actually be a strategy.

 

[2speedy1]

It is one thing to be tough on his players - however, tough both physically AND mentally can destroy a team

My god we have created a generation of marshmallow soft kids.

“Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. Weak men create hard times”

At some point the hard times are going to return, and we only can blame ourselves.

 

[mred]

Bottom line is that he has one year left on his contract with a $700K buyout.

That's not quite right. He apparently has a 700k retention bonus he gets unless he leaves on his own or is fired for cause. There's an additional buyout of around $300k on his final year.

 

[Jnecker4cy]

Maybe if Bill had hired real assistants instead of all the nepos, there would actually be a strategy.

Billy is the only assistant related to Bill. Nepotism Baby sounds cool but onlyb1 assistant is related to Bill.

 

[cykadelic2]

That's not quite right. He apparently has a 700k retention bonus he gets unless he leaves on his own or is fired for cause. There's an additional buyout of around $300k on his final year.

I am going by this source:

Iowa State Coach Bill Fennelly Salary - USA TODAY

See the complete salary history of Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly, including scheduled school pay and bonuses. Brought to you by USA TODAY.

sportsdata.usatoday.com

 

[TD Hardeman!]

No offense to Blum, but I'd like to see some proof that someone is getting $1 million for anything.

Billy is the only assistant related to Bill. Nepotism Baby sounds cool but onlyb1 assistant is related to Bill.

Bill stated to the press this past year that WBB is his family business. This sure sounds like NEPOTISM. Regardless, it's a very arrogant and entitled type of statement to make. A statement that shows his confidence and pride, but arguably mocks the concept of meritocracy.

The WBB program loses $4 million per year. The program needs a reboot.