I don't even think it is THAT conniving. Let's be jhonest -- Hodgson isn't out of work. He doesn't need to leave money on the table just to take a bird in the hand.
He doesn't have to leave USF. He's built a good thing there, he had success, and if he stays he'll almost certainly have success.
Or he could go to Providence.
Or he could go to Syracuse.
Or he could cast his net more widely, and see if any other teams come calling.
When you have options, you don't necessarily have to take the offer on the table. You can negotiate. And that's what his representation is doing.
You can leverage one offer against another, in search of more preferential compensation or better terms. That's the advantage of not being desperate, you have options.
And of course, he's going to look for more resources. Why wouldn't he?