Dear Coach Battle,
Go to Providence.
Seriously. Interview for the job, accept the position, pick out a nice suit and start practicing to look surprised when the PA announces your name in November.
I mean, what’s there to lose?
Sure, some of the Wake fans will implore you to consider your legacy as a Deacon, to remember the history of the great Wake coaches before you who went on to successful careers. They’ll probably name drop the likes of Skip Prosser, Dave Odom, and Bones McKinney, all guys who won ACC tournament or regular season titles in their noteworthy careers. Don’t follow in the footsteps of Bob Staak, you’ll be warned; he made the wise decision to leave Wake after his fourth year, and use the move as a stepping stone to an illustrious career as a used car salesman. Don’t let those comparisons get you down, though, even if Staak did get the privilege of watching from the sidelines as his former colleagues celebrated an ACC championship.
Plus, sticking around and winning a fifth ACC title for the Demon Deacs is just selfish, even if you haven’t ever won one yourself. Think about it: the Joel is already full of ACC championship banners, and adding one of your own would ruin the symmetry in the rafters. Sure, you’ll give up your chance to be remembered as one of Wake's all-time greatest basketball coaches, but I bet if you asked Dave Odom, he would tell you that fans don’t remember collegiate legacies anyway. Well, at least until he tries to visit Butler, where his likeness is still routinely hailed as the man who resurrected their program.
And if you’re still not convinced, remember that if you go to Providence, you might not even have to coach next year! Who really wants to coach, anyway? Sure, you won’t get paid any of that major contract that you’d sign as a top assistant, but at least you won’t have to endure the grind of college basketball. Some of those same haters from before will probably call it a wasted season, as Europe will probably be the only place to coach in the interim, but that won’t affect your salary. As long as the assistant salary structure stays the same, that is.
That’s all there is to consider. Rest assured, you’ll never regret leaving [Redacted] after just one year, never wonder what might have been if you stuck around to play with Winston-Salem’s No. 2-ranked recruiting class, which by the way includes your longtime friend and teammate Chase Fischer. It’s really a no-brainer.
I look forward to your announcement, even if you ignore my advice and stay at Wake, er, I mean, go to Providence.
Sincerely,
OGB
