By Jeff Bugher
5/10/2024
On Thursday evening, news broke that Wyoming men’s head basketball coach Jeff Linder would likely leave to join Texas Tech as an assistant coach. Following the announcement, many Wyoming fans took to social media to express their desire for former assistant coach and Gillette, Wyo. native Sundance Wicks, to take Linder’s spot. Wicks previously served as an assistant coach at Wyoming under Linder for three seasons between 2020 and 2023, further strengthening his ties to the state and the team. While it seems logical, should Wyoming and Wicks reach an agreement, the university would be obligated to pay a $705,000 buyout to Green Bay to secure his services. As of now, Linder's departure remains unofficial, but indications strongly suggest it. To be transparent, Linder's buyout is approximately one million, but the contract would have to be enforced to be collected upon. This scenario is purely hypothetical.
Contract Roadblock
Sundance turned around the struggling Green Bay Phoenix and was rewarded with a new contract that was signed last month, making him the highest-paid head coach in program history.
Wicks's base salary by year:
$300,000 in 2024-25
$325,000 in 2025-26
$350,000 in 2026-27
$375,000 in 2027-28
$400,000 in 2028-29
The contract includes a buyout:
$705,000 - If notice is provided any time before April 1, 2025
$475,000 - 2026
$350,000 - 2027
$150,000 - 2028
$50,000 - 2029
If Sundance accepted the position at Wyoming, the university would need to pay Green Bay a $705,000 buyout. However, Wicks would likely receive a significant salary increase. Given that Linder's base salary was $700,000 annually in 2022, it's reasonable to expect Wicks to command a similar salary. Contract details source: Green Bay Press Gazette
As Head Coach at Green Bay
Wicks left Wyoming in 2023 to accept a head coaching position at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay. Sundance inherited a team with an 3-29 season record (2-18 Horizon League) in 2022-2023. In his first year, Wicks turned the program around by adding six transfer players and finished the season with a record of 18-14 (13-7 Horizon League). Sundance was named the 2023-24 Horizon League Coach of the Year and the Joe B. Hall National Coach of the Year.
As an Assistant at Wyoming
Wicks served as an assistant coach at Wyoming under Jeff Linder for three seasons (2020-2023), further deepening his ties to the state and the team during a time when the team made an appearance in the NCAA tournament. After being named the new head coach for Green Bay, Sundance reported on X (formerly Twitter) that he and his family had received two hate mail letters.
Considering Wick's enthusiastic coaching style and proven ability to turn things around in Green Bay, he might be the leading candidate for the potential vacancy. Would Sundance want to leave Green Bay to return to Wyoming? Time will tell.
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