Harvard Amakes Amaker an Offer He Can’t Refuse
Hey, remember when we wrote the other week about Harvard’s unconscionable number of black coaches — y’know, zero — out of 41 head coaching positions? All better!!! The Crimson last week hired Tommy Amaker, who is black, to lead its men’s basketball program. Given that the last African-American to hold the title left 16 years ago, we can look forward to equitable representation in December 2071. (We think that math is right.)
Actually, the real news is that Amaker comes to Cambridge from freaking Michigan, which must make it feel like the rims are set at an elementary-school eight feet. How ever did Harvard land him? Amaker’s shit performance in Ann Arbor (no tourney berths in six years) certainly has something to do with it, but the truth is much simpler: a fat paycheck. A very reliable source tells us Amaker will make $225,000 a year; at Harvard, that works out to about $20,000 per win.
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April 20th, 2007 at 6:43 pm
Admittedly, I speak out of complete ignorance of Tommy Amaker, but I did just read his wikipedia bio, and he was born in Falls Church, VA, home to the current Shah of Iran and a concert pianist or two. Granted, any attempt by Harvard to live up to its own liberal values should be applauded, and I believe it is truly despicable that minorities have been discriminated against in landing head coaching jobs, but Amaker is probably not the best poster-child for Affirmative Action. I guess for Harvard, it’s ok if he looks black, just as long as he’s never been poor. As I’m sure Obama will say at the next alumni meeting, ‘Brandy’s all around for the boys in Crimson!’
April 20th, 2007 at 6:44 pm
Admittedly, I speak out of complete ignorance of Tommy Amaker, but I did just read his wikipedia bio, and he was born in Falls Church, VA, home to the current Shah of Iran and a concert pianist or two. Granted, any attempt by Harvard to live up to its own liberal values should be applauded, and I believe it is truly despicable that minorities have been discriminated against in landing head coaching jobs, but Amaker is probably not the best poster-child for Affirmative Action. I guess for Harvard, it’s ok if he looks black, just as long as he’s never been poor. As I’m sure Obama will say at the next alumni meeting, ‘Brandies all around for the boys in Crimson!’
April 20th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
right. because if he’s not poor, then he’s not REALLY black.
April 20th, 2007 at 9:18 pm
I’d hit it.
April 20th, 2007 at 11:32 pm
Cornell ‘05 said:
Admittedly, I speak out of complete ignorance
And that’s about where you should have ended your post.
April 21st, 2007 at 1:24 pm
Doesn’t change the fact that if Amaker is held up to be an example of ‘affirmative action working’ then it’s an abject failure. A son of privilege gets a top job. Not really pulling up the betrodden minorities by their boot straps.
April 21st, 2007 at 7:28 pm
In all fairness to Amaker’s “shit” performance at Michigan, he inherited the most corrupt, scandal-ridden program in college bball. It’s ridiculous that Michigan fired him, given what they gave him to clean up. He should be happy as hell to be out of big-time athletics.
April 22nd, 2007 at 8:23 am
First, for the record, Ivy League basketball now has six black coaches (Dunn, Amaker, Jones, Jones, Robinson, Johnson). Six. Out of eight.
Second, a “fat paycheck” really? Amaker was making $1.3 million at Michigan. At least four of the other Ivy coaches make more than Amaker’s $225k and they came from relative obscurity. Harvard got damn lucky to hire a man of this caliber. I’m amazed that Amaker took them up on it.
April 23rd, 2007 at 2:26 am
No one else would hit it?
April 25th, 2007 at 12:46 pm
It’s no secret that Michigan basketball is a lousy job. Their arena is old and their practice facility is old. The school has made no financial commitment to the basketball program since the Fab Five era, which technically does not even exist in their basketball history. Their last 2 Final 4 appearances have been erased from the record book due to corruption charges. Frankly I think firing him and allowing Amaker to seek another position without looking like an ingrate is Michigan’s way of thanking him for cleaning up their program. Remember, he resurrected a lousy Seton Hall program before jumping ship to Michigan. The man recruited people to New Jersey! My guess is he’ll get another shot at a mid-major program in under 3 years.