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It’s past time Miami at least called Frank Martin

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OK, now will Miami give Frank Martin a call?

Now that Tommy Amaker spurned the Hurricanes job to stay at Harvard – an Ivy League school over the ACC? – the school needs to save face. Don’t turn to Mike Davis, Tony Barbee or Billy Kennedy just yet. Call Martin. See what the Kansas State coach says. Couldn’t hurt.

You just had a guy pass on a reported $1.1 million deal to stay at a school that hasn’t made the NCAA tournament since 1946. And it was probably the right move.

So if Amaker doesn’t want it why would Martin? Hard to say since the school hasn’t contact the Miami native. Perhaps the ‘Canes don’t want to deal with rejection. But it’s stupid not to try. And it sounds as if Martin’s offended they haven’t.

Here’s what Martin said about it on Monday:

“Everyone’s reporting that my salary is $1.55 million (annually). Actually, my salary is $1.1 million,” he said. “Now, I’m an old high school teacher who was making 32 grand when I moved to Boston, and I’m extremely grateful and thankful for the salary I make right now.

“If I stayed the length of the (five-year) contract and I collect every bonus on the contract, it will average out to $1.55. And you know what? There is a chance that the University of Miami never called because they think I make $1.5,” he said. “There’s a chance just because it was released at $1.55 the University of Miami said, ‘We can’t call him. Why waste our time? We can’t pay him.’” ...

“I’ve had numerous friends call me, countless people in that community begging me to go back home,” he said. “The one thing that’s unfair to the University of Miami is that all the media people, locally and nationally, are saying it’s not a good job. And that’s not right. But UM never called. So I have no idea. And I’m not pursuing other jobs. I’ve never chased a job in my life.”


Martin’s brusque demeanor apparently has been a deterrent for Miami, but that’s ridiculous. If Martin, who’s 95-43 in four seasons and has been to the NCAA tournament three times, wins, he’ll be popular with fans. (Well, as popular as a Miami basketball coach can be.)

Make the call. If Martin says no, those other guys will still be there.

You also can follow me on Twitter @MikeMillerNBC.