How did coaching contracts get this way?

[WildcatsAndBourbon]

From all I know of college sports, there are only a handful of coaches who should ever warrant the contracts that are handed out.

Saban earned his. Coach K earned his. I think it’s safe to say that Hurley will have earned his for however much he ends up getting from whoever he ends up getting it from.

But outside of guys who legitimately build dynasties, who build programs that consistently win leagues, win league tournaments, who regularly make it to the last four men standing, why do colleges pay these guys this much money?

Kenny Payne earned millions of dollars for a grand total of what 12 wins? And will continue to earn millions while not doing the job. Indiana ruined its basketball brand by overpaying coaches that could not perform, and ensuring those guys would siphon off money for years to come.

Why wouldn’t contracts be more performance/inncentive based. Something like, “we’ll pay you a very nice living to start, and then if you accomplish “A” you’ll get this huge bonus. “B,” you’ll get this even huger bonus. Accomplish at least “X” and you can come back and give it another shot next year.

Coaches should be paid like a commission based saleforce.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

Tv money

 

[GonzoCat90]

You see these giant TV deals the conferences are signing? You see all the money the schools are raking in through multiple avenues?

Who would you have them give it to if not the players and coaches?

 

[WildcatsAndBourbon]

You see these giant TV deals the conferences are signing? You see all the money the schools are raking in through multiple avenues?

Who would you have them give it to if not the players and coaches?

How about tuition having not gone up 1000% over the past two to three decades? Give it to the university for the good of the entire student body and faculty.

Or you know, keeping ticket and concession prices lower.

 

[dl51344]

Why is it that coaches don't start at a basic negotiated salary and get raised based only on reaching certain milestones like wins preseason, tournament wins, etc. In other words achievements.

 

[knot4reel]

Intelligent post OP

 

[ukfan1622]

Sports is part of the entertainment business; Tom Cruise probably doesn't deserve his $20 million per movie but everybody takes as much salary as the market is willing to pay.

 

[gossie21]

Is today the day we get to learn about capitalism, free markets, economics and whatnot?

 

[StubbornPenny]

Everyone loooooooves the free market until it's sports....

 

[preacherfan]

6

Saban earned his. Coach K earned his. I think it’s safe to say that Hurley will have earned his for however much he ends up getting from whoever he ends up getting it from.

What Hurley did with back to back titles is impressive but he is a 2 hit wonder at this point in time. He is not in the same category as K or Saban. He hasn't built a dynasty of any kind YET. He has zero Sweet 16's before last season and had only won 1 regular season title.

 

[AzubuikeandFitch]

Why is it that coaches don't start at a basic negotiated salary and get raised based only on reaching certain milestones like wins preseason, tournament wins, etc. In other words achievements.

Base salary depending on credentials and previous experience. After that it's all incentive driven. $ for wining games like the Champions Classic, regular season conference title, conference tourney, Sweet 16, Elite 8, Final Four, and Natty on a sliding scale. Maybe even a back end bonus for all the portal players/recruits signed who are rated 4* and 5*.

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

Supply and demand.

 

[bbncal02]

Everyone loooooooves the free market until it's sports....

Agreed but it’s a valid thought. We have infrastructure crumbling, inflation having around but we don’t blink an eye at a coach being offered 13 million. Or renovations costing 10 to 100s of millions.

Wild times to be sure.

 

[canebreak]

It's why college athletics is unsustainable and the end is coming. Most schools of UK's caliber have budgets of 120 to 150 million per year. IF you are paying coaches salaries (combined all sports and assistants) 15 or 20 million a year then that is a huge chuck. Football coach 5 to 10M. Basketball 5 to 10 M. All the assistants. All the non revenues. THink about it. No business model pays their CEO 10 million with a budget of 120 million in total. It's non sensical.

 

[Morgantown Card]

Kenny Payne earned millions of dollars for a grand total of what 12 wins? And will continue to earn millions while not doing the job. Indiana ruined its basketball brand by overpaying coaches that could not perform, and ensuring those guys would siphon off money for years to come.

Trivia - Kenny Payne's monthly salary sitting at home eating Cheetos or whatever will be higher than the new coach Pat Kelsey's monthly salary while PK is actively working and leading the program. It is insanity and one would have to think a market correction is coming b/c this does not seem sustainable to me. I mean if you're Baylor and private school then ok whatever, but when it's public money paying for this stuff it isn't exactly the invisible hand of the free market.