Nobody can be certain that Georgia State will be able to keep basketball coach Ron Hunter. As Charlie Cobb, the school's athletic director, told me Tuesday, "He’s got to have a list of five or six schools that are no-brainers for him. That’s in his world. If you have a chance to double your salary, you do it."
But Cobb is supremely confident Hunter is staying. And if you're wondering just how quickly a great season, an NCAA tournament run and becoming lead stories on ESPN and in USA Today can change a coach's world, consider this:
• State athletic department officials had been discussing the possibility of building a basketball practice facility in available space, near the school's old arena and aquatics center. This would be a temporary space until fundraising for a $10 million facility could be completed. But the Panthers' season will "speed up the process," Cobb said. "We have the space so let's get an immediate answer. We have the resources so let's do it." Voila! The school will spend $1 million to $1.5 million for the practice space.
• Hunter has sought pay increases for his assistant coaches. Done.
• Hunter has sought the use of a charter plane for some road trips during which the team has either flown commercial or even ridden buses in the past. Done.
• Hunter would like increased office space for the team. Done. "We can move some offices around," Cobb said. (Why am I getting a vision of Milton Waddams (Stephen Root) in the movie "Office Space" being moved to the basement?)
• Improvements are needed in Georgia State's old arena. Actually, a wrecking ball is needed. But for now, there will be some upgrades, including a new video board.
All of this, of course, is an addition to a potential new contract for Hunter, even though he received a new contract last year. More power to Hunter. Coaches need to get it while they can because euphoria has a shelf life.
But I do think the Panthers can maintain a successful basketball program. They're set up for it. I'm not convinced they can achieve this in football, which involves more money and resources and takes much longer to build. The Georgia State student body also has not fully embraced football, as evidenced by the small crowds at home games.
For more on this subject, I've written a full column on MyAJC.com, which you can read by clicking this link.
But first, more from Milton!
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