Fred is making 2 million a year, by the way. Not as is being mentioned here 1.6 or 1.8m. That old contract was reworked after last year. If the second half of this season goes as well as the first, I am sure another raise will be given.
We'll continue to offer him a salary that is competitive in the Big 12. But sooner or later an NBA team will come and offer him 5 million + a year. And we have no idea how he may respond to that.
We can speculate that he has enough money, and he will build a legacy in Ames, that he loves Ames, that his family loves Ames, that he is too loyal to Ames, that he ought to be grateful to us because we gave him a chance to coach even though he had no coaching experience.
We can speculate that Fred wants bigger challenges than coaching at the college level, that money is never enough, and that he would want to even further solidify the financial security of his grand children.
But ultimately none of has any idea what Fred is thinking (just like none of us have any idea what Rashad Vaughn is thinking).
This is the part that I don't think most normal people understand. Especially the 9 to 5ers, which includes me. And more than the money, it would be the challenge. Top level coaches are top level coaches for a reason. It's not because they like coming home at night, shutting off their job and just relaxing with the family. It's definitely not those who are concerned about vacation time and when they get their break from the daily grind.
I definitely like to speculate about how a coach might think and weather or not money is enough, but for some, it's about the competition. They aren't happy unless they are out there trying to prove everyone wrong. I think there is something a little off about top level coaches. Succeeding is not just a desire, it probably consumes their whole being. I think that's what makes it so hard for the average fan to really comprehend why a coach might leave. Usually, it isn't just about the money, most of them have plenty of money. It's that next step, that next challenge that lures them.
I can really only hope Fred has no ambitions other than making ISU a powerhouse program.