Depending on how the rest of the season plays out, it is yet to be determined whether this year is more successful than last, especially relative to expectations. Given yet another year on the job, this season needed to be significantly better than last, and by any reasonable standard it is not yet clear that it will be, and has the potential to get ugly quick. Several key things are different since last year. So, to answer your question as to what changed ...
1) Expectations. Even if you want to argue that by playing a cupcake schedule the record may be slightly better this year, performance has fallen short of "successful", especially when considering whether a contract extension would be warranted.
2) Contract status. The clock is ticking. Another year has past. Going into the final year of a five-year contract, either an extension or a resignation will occur.
3) Another year of frustration. Bz's, not ours. Courtney has graduated. Nina is unhappy. He has offered to resign before. This time RW will take him up on the offer.
4) Money. Saved the most important one for last. That is the driving factor. Big $$ gave the AD a long leash, trusted the message, found that wanting, and has become increasingly impatient. They are expressing greater concern than ever. Small-donor contributions already had dropped significantly, but not enough to alter the commitment to the current situation given major-donor support. However, recently overall fundraising efforts have been impacted and the athletic situation in general, and the basketball program in particular, are frequently cited by donors declining to contribute, leading to support levels below expectation. Clearly, this negative impact is now being felt beyond the AD.
