Hatchell rejects S. Carolina, will remain at UNC

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Hatchell rejects S. Carolina, will remain at UNC

May 1, 2008

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Chapel Hill, N.C. — Sylvia Hatchell will not leave for South Carolina and will remain the head women's basketball coach at North Carolina, Director of Athletics Dick Baddour announced Thursday.

Baddour will propose changes to her contract to the UNC Board of Trustees this month. Hatchell has a base salary of $260,000 and is under contract through 2011.

The Gamecocks had discussed their open head coaching position with Hatchell, who has recruited that state aggressively in her time at UNC. Some of her best players, including former guard Ivory Latta, have been from South Carolina.

Carolina has won four consecutive ACC championships and been to the Final Four twice in the last four years. She led the Tar Heels to the NCAA championship in 1994.

But Hatchell has also urged Carolina to put more resources into the program. The school is now renovating Carmichael Auditorium.

"After the 2006-07 season, we talked about looking at her current contract at the end of this year to make sure she was compensated in line with other premier coaches," Baddour said. "That is what we have done. This is similar to what we did in 2003 and 2006."

Hatchell has an overall record of 784-305 and a 512-195 mark at North Carolina. She was the ACC Coach of the Year in 2008 after the Heels finished 33-3.

"It was an honor to be considered by South Carolina¹s director of athletics
Eric Hyman," Hatchell said in a statement. "South Carolina is one of the few places I would look at because of its location and the relationships I have with so many very special people in the state. "

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Good comments, valid points. And yet for all of that, I cannot get a handle on the salarys of professional ball players. Some of the deals offered high draft picks in the NFL draft boggle my mind. I watch the NFL on television, and pull for the Panthers. But if all fans were like me, most teams couldn't get 10,000 to the stadium on game day, much less 50,000 or more. Amazing. Some accuse me of not being a true fan, but it's all a matter of what's important in your life. No way I'm going to drop a grand or more to sit in the stands to watch a game, when I can sit home and watch it pretty much for free, with a lot better view, restroom just a few steps away, and drinks and snacks at Food Lion prices. Not to mention my bank account in good shape. For those who make six figures or more and can afford it, more power to them. No criticism at all from me. But when you really look at it overall, the money involved is beyond belief.

Yet another story of a college coach, already compensated well beyond the true importance of their team... getting a "raise" that will likely be well beyond the true contribution the team makes to the University, or to anything. Sylvia currently is paid $260,000 in "base salary", but makes far more than that with all the "fringes" and additional earning opportunities, has a primary home that would be considered a "mansion" by most standards, and met with SC officials in her "beach house". Is this a picture of someone who is not "well-compensated"? It certainly far exceeds the compensation of virtually all professors at the University... by a very wide margin. That being said, when compared to her "peers" in the intercollegiate women's basketball world, a case can be made that she deserves more. My comments are not a criticism of Sylvia... it is the "system". Will Chancellors/Presidents of our universities ever take control and rein in the runaway arms race of college athletics?

", I am not a Duke fan, so take shots at them all you like "

Oh, okay. You sounded so much like one, it was an honest mistake. As far as caring about Hatchell staying, there aren't many comments about it, so it appears that I'm one of the few that does care. But I'm not clueless, I assure you.

Never said they didn't count, said it was sad you care so much about it. By the way, I am not a Duke fan, so take shots at them all you like - I just get a kick out of the Chapel Hill fans - they are clueless.

"I have no doubt that you don't understand"

I have no doubt that you are so lost in a fantasy world of envy of the Baby Blue that you are just sputtering incoherently, like the Duke men's basketball team did this past season..... but on the off chance that you're referring to Hatchell staying at Chapel Hill, Carolina fans should care. What's up with you? The women don't count? You want to keep them seen and not heard, and bareftoot and pregnant, or what??? Splain yersef, Boy!!!!! ROFLMAO

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