I’m not convinced that Golding is out of woods just yet. It just doesn’t make a lot of sense for either party to go into a 5th and final year. The 4th year of his contract ends August 31st. So, starting, September 1, Golding is Coaching without a buyout. He can be fired right after a bad game. It doesn't make sense for UTEP to not just pay the buyout now before August 31st because starting September 1st he is on his year 5 Salary which is larger than his current $350,000 buyout.
The buyout is just such a relatively small amount at this point in his contract. If they let him Coach next season and do not renew his contract, they will pay him until August 31, 2026. And the new Head Coach will be getting paid his pro rated Salary from the time he is hired in April until September 1, 2026. Paying 2 concurrent contracts has gotta be more than the $350,000 buyout. Its probably cheaper to buy him out than to let him stay.
So everyone has already said all the other reasons why it doesn't make sense to keep him, such as roster overhaul, CUSA to MWC move, the struggles of the season, etc..... but financially, there isn't a good reason to keep him.
I don't get it. I would actually understand giving him an extension. (Not really) but an extension is actually smarter than throwing this poor guy out there for what is essentially an interim campaign.
