5-Star recruit KJ Henry trying to get his dad a job
I guess you can hate the game, but not the player
https://247sports.com/Bolt/Hiring-father-could-be-factor-in-5-star-KJ-H…
“Out of my five schools, if my dad were to end up anywhere, obviously that’s what he loves to do and he is part of my family and I like all five schools enough to where that could be a big decision coming forward. It’s nothing where it is an analyst type deal or anything like that, but if he could go in and coach that would be big.
“At the same time, we have already talked about that. He is not pressuring me like if he were to get a job he’s letting every coach know that doesn’t ensure that I’m committing there. It’s still my decision, but it is definitely something I think about.”
December 13th, 2017 at 9:57 AM ^
If this kid doesn't go pro, then this is probably the only time in his athletic life he has any power or leverage to help out his family.
I know this kind of thing happens sometimes (even at UM), bu I'm suprised it doesn't happen all the time, given that so many of the top players have fathers who are coaches.
December 13th, 2017 at 10:04 AM ^
Its like a Kickback..literally play for pay..not interested in that type of charachter
December 13th, 2017 at 10:07 AM ^
December 13th, 2017 at 10:13 AM ^
December 13th, 2017 at 10:33 AM ^
So unless a person works for free and makes zero dollars per year, they cannot question a kid basically tying together his college choice with a job for his father? And since his father already has a job, doesn't that make this even slimier? He's not trying to "be a good boy and help his family survive" or something. He is trying to get his dad a promotion.
December 13th, 2017 at 10:59 AM ^
Nothing slimy about this....everyone has advantages they play to get ahead to some degree or another. For this kid, he can use his status to help his father advance...how is this different than Jay Harbaugh getting a high level job when his father is the HC. There's no difference.
Play the hand you're dealt...
December 13th, 2017 at 2:41 PM ^
December 13th, 2017 at 4:04 PM ^
Yes, that would be better but even still, the idea is if you have an Ace up your sleeve, play it!
December 13th, 2017 at 10:13 AM ^
Or you could look at it as a natural evolution of NCAA's crazy amateurism ruleset. If athletes can't take (legal) payments, they can flex their market muscle in other ways. We live in a (theoretically) capitalistic society, so you have a rare, desired resource (super talented athlete) testing demand.
Eventually the NCAA will put down the slave revolt or cave.
December 13th, 2017 at 11:58 AM ^
If the market were really there, someone would be hiring footbal players out of high school. The lack of such a market indicates that there is no such market.
December 13th, 2017 at 1:02 PM ^
The dominance of the market that already exists combined with the fact that status quo benefits that market at pretty much zero cost may have something to do with it.
December 13th, 2017 at 1:35 PM ^
Ever heard of cartels (NCAA)?
Ever heard of barriers to entry?
Ever heard of new businesses creating new markets? How could somebody create a new market because the lack of a market indicates there is no such market??
Go take an Econ 101 course before talking about markets.
December 14th, 2017 at 6:45 AM ^
I teach econmics.
The NCAA is not a cartel. Universities do zero to prevent the creation of non-university football leagues. Such leagues exist. Yet the best football players coming out of high school choose to play for universities rather than, say, the Gridiron Develpmental Football League (salaries around $50,000 per year). There is a reason why, and it is market economics. The value of the college training (and education) simply outwighs what the non-college leagues can offer. That's how markets work.
Good luck with that econ 101 final. You'll need it.
December 13th, 2017 at 12:13 PM ^
December 13th, 2017 at 10:02 AM ^
Didn't the NCAA create a rule that schools cannot hire a recruits family members or high school coach to gain a recruiting advantage?
I don't agree with the rule because if a guy is qualified for a job he shouldn't be punished because he has a relationship with a recruit, but I thought I remembered a rule getting passed that outlaws this.
December 13th, 2017 at 10:04 AM ^
It's too hard to enforce, and IMO, it might even be a legal issue if publicly funded schools deny an opportunity to potential employees.
December 13th, 2017 at 10:20 AM ^
That is why I had an issue with the rule in the first place. If someone is qualified for a job (Tyrone Wheatley, Michael Johnson Sr., Chris Partridge. the list goes on.) they shouldn't be passed over because their son or one of their players are good at football.
December 13th, 2017 at 11:12 AM ^
Right. Personally, I don't think the hiring should be the strict issue. If they want to be more stringent, then it should be in the salary/benefits. For example, a recruit's immediate family member should not be able to make more than the average salary for all assistant coaches within the conference. So if the average assistant salary in the Big Ten is $200,000, then K.J. Henry's dad shouldn't be able to make more than $200,000 if his kid gets a scholarship in the Big Ten.
December 13th, 2017 at 10:17 AM ^
I think it was OK for an on field coach, just not a position like analyst.
December 13th, 2017 at 10:20 AM ^
You can't hire someone from a HS you get a recruit from for 3 years, or something similar to that. If his dad doesn't work at the HS he goes to, he's clear.
December 13th, 2017 at 10:54 AM ^
Jobs where there are no limits on how many people you can hire. A relative could be stashed there with no real responsibilities. It could just be a payoff.
On field coaching jobs are specifically exempted from the rule. If a school wants to name his HS coach their HC, or make his father one of their ten assistant coaches, that's allowed. The presumption is that they will have real responsibilities and schools wouldn't hire them without decent qualifications. If they don't, it's a high price to pay for a recruiting advantage. One that most schools would think isn't worth it.
December 13th, 2017 at 12:16 PM ^
Analyst position vs. actual coach.
"It’s nothing where it is an analyst type deal or anything like that, but if he could go in and coach that would be big."
You can no longer hire a recruits family to an analyst position (where you can make up job titles, and have as big of a staff as you can afford). If they are hired as an actual position coach it is not illegal. You have a finite number of position coaches on staff, so hiring an unqualified person in that role would be insane. At that point, you have a qualified individual on a staff, and yeah, maybe they are the reason so and so goes to a school, but how is that any different than someones parents pushing their kid to Michigan because they like the school or went to the school?
December 13th, 2017 at 10:03 AM ^
They are shaking up their offensive staff already and need a 5* recruit a lot more than most of those other schools. I don't have a problem with them doing it or with the kid wanting it. Would not like us to make that move though.
December 13th, 2017 at 10:15 AM ^
Paul Finebaum will be OK with it.
If he goes elsewhere Finebaum will be outraged.
December 13th, 2017 at 10:34 AM ^
I haven't heard him whine about the Ole Miss players (especially Shea) coming to Michigan. He could've trolled us like some particular Detroit-area radio types.
December 13th, 2017 at 12:12 PM ^
Surprisingly he was pretty high on Michigan after Patterson transferred. Even went so far as to say that if he's eligible to play next year he considers Michigan a title contender.
Whether or not he really meant it or it was a subtle trolling, I don't know. But it's not outright hatred like we're used to seeing from him.
December 13th, 2017 at 7:00 PM ^
I interpret it as him saying M will be good because they imported SEC talent.
December 13th, 2017 at 10:19 AM ^
top notch employee.
December 13th, 2017 at 10:26 AM ^
Henry lives just a few miles from my brother -in-law in Clemmons, NC. From everything I've heard down here, the kid is a Clemson lock and has been for quite some time. There have been rumors he has been a silent commit to them for months.
December 13th, 2017 at 10:37 AM ^
IF the dad is qualified and a school actually has a need. Otherwise, if he's hired just to get the kid on the team, not sure about that one.
GO BLUE!
December 13th, 2017 at 11:41 AM ^
December 13th, 2017 at 11:59 AM ^