Walter Offutt

[Bird Friend]

As taxpayers, Illinois citizens are entitled to be aware if someone is receiving improper benefits. You could even face a Title IX violation claim if a men’s team is providing someone with benefits they are not entitled to and it is determined to be unequal treatment.

Offutt likely has a 1-year contract; however, that contract would require him to perform his duties or else there would be an immediate termination. So ISU would probably want to address that even if they don’t particularly care to.

If Offutt is on the bench tonight, great. He can help towards future goals. I would still put money on him not being here in 2023-24. There is too much about this that doesn’t pass the smell test.

So now we're assuming improper benefits? O . . . . kay.

 

[SlackBooDom]

So now we're assuming improper benefits? O . . . . kay.

I don’t know if there’s any assumption. When you handle this as poorly and weirdly as ISU has you open the door to all speculation. Right or wrong.

 

[Brick]

Well…. just in case there will be an opening on the coaching staff, I think Brick should put his golf clubs away and get back to central Illinois.

Not a chance pal!!! I love being warm and playing golf 5 times a week

 

[Adunk33]

So maybe there is something going on . . . Offut not on bench. Here's Benson's response when pressed:

Did that guy get blocked for asking Benson a question?

 

[Reggie Redbird]

So now we're assuming improper benefits? O . . . . kay.

Unequal benefits is not the same as improper benefits. We’re not paying him under the table to avoid taxes or anything like that - or at least it doesn’t appear we are. Basically it’s saying we can’t treat programs differently. Easy lawsuit to say that a men’s coach received extra benefits that a women’s coach hasn’t or wouldn’t receive, if anyone is still pretending this is just a parental leave for bonding time.

Ultimately it appears we have a coach who has exhausted his paid and unpaid leave time (if they actually stopped his paychecks). If they are paying him or continuing any financial benefits, while not paying others in the same situation, it would appear we are violating university HR policy, perhaps state and federal laws, and setting ISU up for a host of discrimination lawsuits.

Something tells me that a release is coming saying he is moving on and we wish him well.

 

[Bird Friend]

Please re-read my post. You should find nowhere that I’ve said that. Unequal benefits is not the same as improper benefits. We’re not paying him under the table to avoid taxes or anything like that. Basically it’s saying we can’t treat programs differently. Easy lawsuit to say that a men’s coach received extra benefits that a women’s coach hasn’t or wouldn’t receive, if anyone is still pretending this is just a parental leave for bonding time.

Ultimately it appears we have a coach who has exhausted his paid and unpaid leave time (if they actually stopped his paychecks). If they are paying him or continuing any financial benefits, while not paying others in the same situation, it would appear we are violating university HR policy, perhaps state and federal laws, and setting ISU up for a host of discrimination lawsuits.

Something tells me that a release is coming saying he is moving on and we wish him well.

Your first sentence: "As taxpayers, Illinois citizens are entitled to be aware if someone is receiving improper benefits."

I guess your exact words were taken out of context.

 

[BTbird]

I still hope he is coming back and we are just overthinking it but agree that the lack of info leads you to question if something is going on. I think he was the lead recruiter for Chase Walker.

 

[BirdGrad2011]

I still hope he is coming back and we are just overthinking it but agree that the lack of info leads you to question if something is going on. I think he was the lead recruiter for Chase Walker.

Way too much smoke. I just wish they’d do a simple statement. Let’s all move on one way or the other.

 

[Reggie Redbird]

Your first sentence: "As taxpayers, Illinois citizens are entitled to be aware if someone is receiving improper benefits."

I guess your exact words were taken out of context.

You’re right. Those are my words. I’ll edit them to reflect that should have said unequal benefits. I didn’t want it to sound like the context of when a player would get a bag of cash. That’s my fault for the typo and not realizing I made them. If anything ISU has paid or Offutt has received is improper, it is up for a court to decide.

Let me explain my point: If Offutt is receiving pay that he isn’t entitled to or that others would not receive, that’s discriminatory and could be illegal to provide.

As long as the story is that it’s just a standard parental leave, the school has set the narrative that Offutt is receiving benefits outside of what the law allows.

 

[Popsto4]

I don’t know if there’s any assumption. When you handle this as poorly and weirdly as ISU has you open the door to all speculation. Right or wrong.

The door may be opened to it but the speculating, I wont do it. It’s pointless to speculate this situation because at the end of the day the reasoning behind it all have nothing to do with us/me. That’s just me I guess.

 

[BirdGrad2011]

The rumor mill is fired up and please stop publicly speculating possibly incriminating things that we have zero reason to suspect.

 

[Reggie Redbird]

The rumor mill is fired up and please stop publicly speculating possibly incriminating things that we have zero reason to suspect.

I don’t think anyone on here is saying Offutt or anyone did anything criminal. That is tough to hide and would likely be an immediate dismissal. My points have been related to what state (civil) law says and what we could run afoul of with leaves and compensation.

I think we’re all just waiting on the press release that announces his departure, wishing him well, so the team can formally move on and work on a replacement that can help with recruiting and player development.

 

[BirdGrad2011]

I don’t think anyone on here is saying Offutt or anyone did anything criminal. That is tough to hide and would likely be an immediate dismissal. My points have been related to what state (civil) law says and what we could run afoul of with leaves and compensation.

I think we’re all just waiting on the press release that announces his departure, wishing him well, so the team can formally move on and work on a replacement that can help with recruiting and player development.

Well aware, but the mention of improper benefits had some people going off the rails. Nothing I have heard is criminal.

 

[TIMMY]

I'm not saying being down a coach isn't a big deal. I posted it was and still think so. But when you employ people shit happens. Sometimes awful stuff. I had a girl's golf coach get sick and die one year. I don't golf and never have. I coached golf and was a counselor that spring. You adjust and do the best you can.
I'm looking at it this way. The younger coaches have had to pick up the slack. That'll make them better, faster. It feels like Dakich has been way more active on the bench as of late. That's good!

 

[Reggie Redbird]

I'm not saying being down a coach isn't a big deal. I posted it was and still think so. But when you employ people shit happens. Sometimes awful stuff. I had a girl's golf coach get sick and die one year. I don't golf and never have. I coached golf and was a counselor that spring. You adjust and do the best you can.
I'm looking at it this way. The younger coaches have had to pick up the slack. That'll make them better, faster. It feels like Dakich has been way more active on the bench as of late. That's good!

I think Dakich has a great role model in Judson. Seeing Dakich this season, I have no problem how they flipped him from DOBO to Asst.

Mike Mastroianni got a huge boost to his resume, as he has now been a FT D1 Asst coach. He’ll probably return to Chief of Staff, but not bad experience for someone who was a HS Asst last year and not even FT in basketball.

Being down a coach at the college level, where coaching is your FT job is very different than being a HS coach, unless we’re talking Texas HS football here. Being down a coach puts us at a severe disadvantage in recruiting, player development, and even fundraising if Pedon has to take time away from the administrative/fundraising aspects of his role. Yes, teams have to deal with these issues all the time, but I would venture a lot of them pay a price because of it. A very hefty price for us at a time when recruiting and player development is crucial in year 1.

 

[Adunk33]

I think Dakich has a great role model in Judson. Seeing Dakich this season, I have no problem how they flipped him from DOBO to Asst.

Mike Mastroianni got a huge boost to his resume, as he has now been a FT D1 Asst coach. He’ll probably return to Chief of Staff, but not bad experience for someone who was a HS Asst last year and not even FT in basketball.

Being down a coach at the college level, where coaching is your FT job is very different than being a HS coach, unless we’re talking Texas HS football here. Being down a coach puts us at a severe disadvantage in recruiting, player development, and even fundraising if Pedon has to take time away from the administrative/fundraising aspects of his role. Yes, teams have to deal with these issues all the time, but I would venture a lot of them pay a price because of it. A very hefty price for us at a time when recruiting and player development is crucial in year 1.

Agree with everything here. Pedon rolled the dice went overall very young with his first staff with 2 GAs, a former financial advisor and first time assistant. He really put trust in Offutt and Judson to help bring these guys along. Now, that's solely on Pedon and Judson. Judson was already helping to bring Pedon along. He mentioned on the Coach's show Monday that he is grooming Dak to eventually take over the offense, which is why you see him so active on the sideline. I look forward to see who Pedon brings in this offseason. Need someone that can step into the "recruiting coordinator" role.

 

[Popsto4]

I think Dakich has a great role model in Judson. Seeing Dakich this season, I have no problem how they flipped him from DOBO to Asst.

Mike Mastroianni got a huge boost to his resume, as he has now been a FT D1 Asst coach. He’ll probably return to Chief of Staff, but not bad experience for someone who was a HS Asst last year and not even FT in basketball.

Being down a coach at the college level, where coaching is your FT job is very different than being a HS coach, unless we’re talking Texas HS football here. Being down a coach puts us at a severe disadvantage in recruiting, player development, and even fundraising if Pedon has to take time away from the administrative/fundraising aspects of his role. Yes, teams have to deal with these issues all the time, but I would venture a lot of them pay a price because of it. A very hefty price for us at a time when recruiting and player development is crucial in year 1.

I think the developmental aspect of it can possibly take the harder hit. Recruiting lots of the time boil down to relationships created while the parts are moving. No one seem to talk much about the turnover of assistant coaches at this level, it happens often. So in other words recruiting travels along as well.

 

[Sladerunningbear]

I heard Coach Offutt is taking extended parental leave because his wife went back to work taping drywall for Dan.

 

[dpdoughbird06]

I'm not saying being down a coach isn't a big deal. I posted it was and still think so. But when you employ people shit happens. Sometimes awful stuff. I had a girl's golf coach get sick and die one year. I don't golf and never have. I coached golf and was a counselor that spring. You adjust and do the best you can.
I'm looking at it this way. The younger coaches have had to pick up the slack. That'll make them better, faster. It feels like Dakich has been way more active on the bench as of late. That's good!

A few years ago I had a driver manager who handed us his keys to the store keys and company credit card in a Ziplock bag and quit with no notice. Another driver seamlessly stepped in and assumed his role. It’s actually worked out well despite the initial shock of suddenly losing a key cog in the middle of our busy season.

Sometimes an unexpected departure turns out to be a blessing in disguise. Next man up!

 

[Reggie Redbird]

Now that the season is officially over, when will the press release come out that Offutt is no longer affiliated with the team?

This team needs solid recruiting to help turn the tide for next year. You are just not going to have that occurring on all cylinders being down the lead recruiter you brought in.

Sadly, it appears that the Pantagraph beat writer has no interest in doing his job reporting on key matters. If only he had the same passion as he does complaining about his seat, local golf, and having to work late.