Groh’s future with Cavs not tied to money

For those Virginia fans in the audience and looking for the school to make a coaching change, you can rest your hopes on at least one thing.

Money won’t likely play a role in whether or not Al Groh returns to the sidelines in 2010.

According to the Roanoke Times, Groh would be owed $4 million if he were fired after this season, but that number could be mitigated by the downward turn in both attendance and donations.

When it comes time to decide on the future of nine-year football coach Al Groh, a lot of issues will be considered, but money is not likely to be one of them.

It would cost Virginia more than $4 million to pay Groh for the two years that remain on the contract, but it might be costlier to keep him. Annual giving is down this year, nearly $3 million under goal, season-ticket sales dropped by more than 4,000 and attendance is off by more than 7,500 a game.

U.Va. athletic director Craig Littlepage thinks the attendance numbers are key.

“It’s an indicator as to how the fan base is responding to the product,” he said. “Attendance is a byproduct of how the program is perceived. When you’re looking at ticket sales and your ability to raise money, etcetera, these are challenging circumstances.”