Loyola needs to show Porter Moser the money after Final Four run

Porter Moser has raised his profile after taking Loyola to the Final Four and he stands to benefit financially.

Loyola is enjoying their best season in 55 years as the Ramblers will play in the Final Four for the first time in 55 years. They have been the Cinderella story of this year’s March Madness and with the help of Sister Jean has captivated the city of Chicago and basketball fans across the country.

Now it’s time to reward coach Porter Moser with a new contract to keep bigger programs away.

This happens every year a Cinderella team makes a run into the second or third weekend of the NCAA Tournament. The coach goes from relative unknown on the national scene to the next big thing in a span of a couple of games.

That’s what happened with Moser this year who is in his seventh season at Loyola, and it could be his last unless Loyola backs up the Brinks truck and shows him the money.

Moser and athletic director Steve Watson have had preliminary talks about ripping up his old contract for a richer one but that was before Loyola made the Final Four. While the focus remains on the next game for Loyola, Watson tells the Chicago Sun-Times, he’s committed to making Moser the team’s coach for a long time.

“I can tell you this: We want Porter to be our coach for a long, long time,” Watson said.

Moser’s contract ties him to Loyola through the 2021-2022 season and pays him $420,0000.

After this Final Four run, Moser could see his salary double, if not reach the $1 million per year threshold.

That would make Moser the highest-paid coach in the Missouri Valley Conference, but trips to the Final Four aren’t cheap. If Loyola wants to keep Moser happy and turn down offers and opportunities from major programs, they’ll have to get the boosters to open their purse strings in a big way.

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After all the goodwill and press Moser and Loyola have received the last few weeks, this should be a no-brainer for the university and the boosters to pay Moser for what he’s done.

Moser, a native of Naperville, has expressed his love for the university and the city of Chicago and how much his wife and children love where they’re at, so hopefully Loyola shows the same type of love in return and rips up that old contract and gives him a new contract a coach fresh off a Final Four appearance is worth.