Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman took a thinly veiled shot at Michigan and Warde Manuel while talking about how he handles coach compensation after a successful season.
Whitman, whose program just locked in basketball coach Brad Underwood after Illinois reached the Final Four, made it clear he sees that part of the job as non-negotiable. Underwood wasn’t the only one to benefit, either, with multiple assistants also getting raises.
“Taking care of the coaches is an essential part of my job. When we have success, we never want to put them in a position for them to ask for things. We want them to feel supported and valued,” said Whitman.
The timing and the message landed because Michigan is fresh off losing Dusty May only months after a national title and after just two seasons in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines had also seen Jim Harbaugh leave for the NFL after winning a championship in football, and in both cases Manuel did not get the extensions closed after the titles.
That’s what made Whitman’s comment feel pointed, even without him naming Michigan directly. Illinois is the program that just made sure its coach got paid, while Michigan is the one that didn’t actually finalize the promised extension for May.
And from Michigan’s side, the frustration is easy to understand. May did pass on plenty of other jobs and showed real loyalty to the Wolverines, but when an NBA opportunity came along, it became too much to turn down. He also made clear there are parts of college basketball he won’t miss.
For Illinois, the payoff is simple: Underwood is happy, the assistants were rewarded, and the Illini will enter next season with a strong returning roster after a Final Four run. Michigan, meanwhile, is left with an interim coach, though it does have the roster May built returning intact.
Whitman’s message was subtle, but the point was loud enough: if a program wins big, the athletic director better be ready to take care of the people who made it happen.
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