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FGCU turns to fundraising to increase Andy Enfield’s contract

Florida Gulf Coast Eagles coach Enfield shouts instructions to his players during their win over the San Diego State Aztecs in their third round NCAA tournament game in Philadelphia Pennsylvania

Florida Gulf Coast Eagles coach Andy Enfield shouts instructions to his players during their win over the San Diego State Aztecs in their third round NCAA tournament game in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, March 24, 2013. REUTERS/Tim Shaffer(UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)

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To follow along with the 2013 Coaching Carousel, click here.

Andy Enfield’s name is no doubt the hottest in college coaching at the moment. That’ll happen when you lead a team from the Atlantic Sun Confernce into the Sweet 16, and to top it off, become the first 15 seed to ever make it that far.

That buzz means possible job offers and, while that’s a good thing for Enfield and his family, that’s something Florida Gulf Coast would rather not see happen.

So as a result, the school is reaching out trying to raise funds to increase the second-year head coach’s contract, which is currently sitting at $157,500 per year. The program aims to make him the highest-paid coach in the conference. According to the report, the mission is to possibly double his contract.

The school is trying to tap in to any donations it can get to make the coach comfortable enough to stay in the Ft. Myers/Estero area.

First, let me commend FGCU for stepping on the gas with this process. They know Enfield will be a name brought up in a number of coaching searches this offseason and they’re putting up the best fight possible to keep the biggest name to be associated with the school since Chris Sale. And if they can get the necessary funds to make his salary get to around $300,000 per year or more, who knows? It’s been well documented that he already wasn’t hurting for cash when he got into coaching, so that may be enough, depending on where his loyalties lie.

That is, if they can get the dough.

That being said, you can’t stop a guy from searching for a better opportunity. With jobs at UCLA and Minnesota now open, there are sure to be other jobs that could call Enfield for an interview. Though, Enfield may be better suited to stick at FGCU for a few more years to prove that this season wasn’t just lightning in a bottle.

It’s a smart move by FGCU. One that, should Enfield choose to stay, looks even smarter to get underway this early.

Follow David Harten on Twitter at @David_Harten