Brad Stevens isn't going anywhere, signs 12 year contract with Butler

Well, that ended fairly quickly.

Today, Brad Stevens signed a 12 year extension with Butler, meaning he will be under contract with the Bulldogs until 2022. While that doesn't necessarily mean that Stevens will be with Butler until 2022, it definitely means he will be coaching the Bulldogs next season. And as of right now, that is really all that matters.

How many of those 12 years will Stevens be at Butler?
(photo credit: DePauw.edu)

A 12 year contract is rare, and when you consider that we are dealing with a 33 year old at a school in the Horizon League, it becomes all the more impressive and unheard of.

But Butler had to do it.

The Bulldogs couldn't afford to throw the kind of money at Stevens that a Oregon, or a Clemson, or a Wake Forest could. Where they made up for it was in duration, in job security. Last season, Stevens pulled in a $750,000 compensation package. Assuming that number gets bumped (he came inches from winning a national, that number is getting bumped; the terms haven't been released, but my bet is that the number gets doubled), that is a pretty comfortable living to make, and he doesn't have to uproot his family.

Now that Stevens is locked up, the next question for Butler is Gordon Hayward. Does he come back to school?

Draft Express doesn't think so, as Hayward is listed as the 21st pick in this year's mock draft. NBADraft.net has Hayward going 20th. In all fairness, I think that Hayward would be smart to go pro this year. I mean, he did lead Butler to the national title game. His stock very likely will never be higher.

If Hayward does happen to come back, the Bulldogs have to put somewhere in the top five next season considering Shelvin Mack, Matt Howard, and Ronald Nored all return. But if they lose Hayward, is this still a top 25 team? They struggled scoring this year, and would be losing their best offensive option.

A couple things to ponder about this hiring:

• If Indiana continues to struggle under Tom Crean, how long until the Hoosiers dump him and make a run at Stevens?


• There is no way that Butler can consistently remain a top five team. How will the administration and the fan base react if Stevens isn't getting them to Final Four's every season? I don't see Stevens finishing out this contract with Butler. Will he entertain any offers from schools other than Indiana?


• Where will Oregon, Clemson, and Wake look next?