I can 100% assure you that Wellman was not at all pleased with the team's progress earlier in the year. Hence the expectation that if we tanked down the stretch the man would be gone. I just hope the grand total of two wins over ranked opponents isn't somehow viewed as sufficient "progress" to let him keep his job.
And if the BOT has instructed the AD to let this guy go, there is NOTHING Wellman can do to keep him. Companies and institutions don't work that way.
He can't ignore the board's request, but he can attempt to change it. Three options: 1) Passionate plea: probably not going to work at this stage of the game. 2) Threaten to quit: probably doesn't have enough capital at this stage of the game. 3) Line-up donors in support of himself and [Redacted] and get them to make threats: This is what we have to worry about.