Verbeek picked up Eakins' option year. Verbeek didn't have to pick up that option. I think most of us were thinking we were getting a new coach after 2021-22 because that's what new GMs usually do, bring in their own coach into the new org.
From
the Athletic:
Another thing Verbeek did after last season was pick up Dallas Eakin’s option year. Verbeek resisted the temptation that I think a lot of new GMs have, to bring in his own coach immediately.
Now, who knows where this goes after this season? Eakins’ deal will be up. But at the very least, Verbeek wanted to take the time to further get to know his coach before making any decisions.
“It’s not fair … me coming in two, three months and then going with a new guy,” Verbeek said. “And in the sense that I just blew up the team (at the trade deadline). So I wanted to give him a chance. And it gave us an opportunity to get to know one another over the course of the offseason.
“So that’s kind of how the decision was made.”
On a tangent, McIlvane was supposed to come over two seasons ago, but he got held up in Germany. Verbeek got one of McIlvane's former assistant in Kris Sparre in at San Diego two years ago and the fact we hired Sommer at the last minute are pieces of evidence McIlvane was supposed to come over. Since McIlvane's arrival was delayed, that probably put everything out of whack for Verbeek overarching plan.