Could Glen Miller leave Penn? (Part II)

As Andrew Scurria noted in the previous post, it is possible that Glen Miller might want to leave Penn. After the jump is my quick take on the situation, and I swear I'll actually be quick this time.

For as much as I think Miller has been unlucky throughout his tenure, the Penn community's reaction to this entire season -- culminating in the DP's Harrison Gaines interview -- has really compromised his ability to head up the program. For better or for worse, the very existence of a "Fire Glen Miller" blog and the constant threads and comments on message boards and the DP's website calling for his dismissal have surely made the process of recruiting much more complicated. I do think that if fans had given him a bit of breathing room and let him go about his business this year, he could have at least started to turn the program around, and Penn could have waited to reevaluate him until his contract expired. But if he were to leave during the upcoming offseason because of a general frustration -- because his ability to run the program has been compromised -- it might take even longer for the Quakers to recover.

Ultimately, in my opinion, it wouldn't be a wise decision for Miller to leave. These past two years will go on his resume regardless of whether he leaves now, is fired next year, or does not get a new contract down the road. I believe his best chance to advance his career is to stick it out at Penn -- if he can turn the team around next year, he will make it to the final year of his contract. As Penn fans know all too well, a lot can change in two years, and I still do think the team will get better over the next few seasons. (It can't get much worse). Furthermore, the money from the Penn head coaching position will likely be better than whatever an assistant job at a major program can put on the table.

That said, if Miller feels that his role has been diminished, or if he is not enjoying himself, I wouldn't be surprised if he wanted out. The reality is that his position has been weakened, and the public outcry over his performance undoubtedly complicates the rebuilding process he has tried to lead. The real question is whether or not he can regain the respect and trust of the Penn community, or whether he is even willing to try.