1) Matt makes good money, and is a solid recruiter. He's using an angle to make more. Nothing wrong with it, but maybe a bit distasteful after 2 losing seasons. I think he'd be better for it after showing he can get some of the 18' class landed. At this point it's hard to justify any significant raise. He's done a solid job thus far but it's real early.
2) Mike Rice would be great in an assistant role on ur bench regardless of what happens with Matt. I've heard great things about Rice. I know he had a meltdown, but I don't see that happening again. He repented, players love him, he's a tireless worker and can both recruit and coach. He'd make a perfect assistant honestly.
3) losing Matt at this point would be very problematic because of the way we are set up. Matt is our main and ONlY recruiter. We lose our only recruiter, and we have nothing entering the 18' class. In my opinion, every team needs two solid recruiters. It prevents this type of problem. We have too many guys here that are non-recruiters. Usually teams are set up with a HC, an assistant HC that assists in coaching and also is a significant part of recruiting, and another assistant that mainly recruits. Right now we are between a rock and a hard place. Regardless on whether we throw money at Matt now, we need to trade Richmond for a guy that can both coach and recruit.