Pat Chun dodged Alabama but still needs to extend rising Husky coach

Alabama was working last week to steal another Washington Huskies head coach. This time from the women's basketball program. Alabama's athletic director, Greg Byrne, was hoping to get Tina Langley, but for whatever reason, he pivoted to Pauline Love, an Alabama alum. This is great news for the Huskies, who can keep their fast-rising and rebuilding coach, who helped lead the Washington women to the NCAA Tournament this season.

Tina Langley needs a new contract and Pat Chun should push that up the priority list

When Langley was hired in 2021, Chun made a significant investment in the program. Hiring Langley for over $4 million with a six-year contract. She's now getting towards the end of that contract and starting to really hit her stride as the Husky coach. Her buyout is now low enough that another program would and could steal her away if they wanted.

Washington paid Rice 75k to get her to come to Seattle. Her current buyout is only $175k as of April 1. That's just not that much for another high major in need of a coach who has proven she can rebuild a program and get them back into the NCAA Tournament.

According to the Seattle Times, when she signed her deal, "Langley received a six-year, $4,050,000 deal that pays her $650,000 during the first two years, $675,000 in years 3 and 4, and $700,000 in the final two years." This was in 2021, so she's on the last legs of that deal. It's now time to extend her and give her an even richer deal.

It took her a couple of years to get going as the Husky coach in the rebuild. Her first season, she led UW to a 7-16 record, followed by a 19-15 and 16-15 record. She then hit her stride the last two with a 19-14 and 22-11 (this year). She's got a young core with more top players coming in. The future is bright under Langley; it's time to lock her up for a longer and richer contract. Get it done, Chun.