- Sep 8, 2014
- 25,456
- 59,496
Read the Will Muschamp quote - dude's been stealing for almost 10 years now, of course he gladly took a pay cut!
Some, not all, coaches share colleges' burden amid coronavirus pandemic
Some coaches share colleges' pandemic burden
(some cut and pastes from the article):
NEARLY HALF OF major college football and men's basketball coaches have taken voluntary pay cuts in response to the financial crisis facing higher education because of the coronavirus pandemic, but most of the highest-paid coaches have not, an ESPN survey found.
Eight of the 10 top-paid football coaches and at least five of the 10 highest-paid men's basketball coaches -- all of whom earn more money than anyone else at their schools -- have not taken cuts.
Most of the schools that employ those coaches have not announced universitywide salary or job cuts, but they are all facing deep financial distress, accepting millions of dollars in taxpayer relief and, in most cases, implementing a range of cost-saving measures inside and outside athletics.
The list of those whose pay is unchanged includes the two highest-paid coaches in their respective sports: Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney, who earned $9.3 million in the 2019-20 season, and Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari, who earned $8.2 million. Others include, in football, Alabama's Nick Saban ($8.9 million) and Texas A&M's Jimbo Fisher ($7.5 million) and, in basketball, Tennessee's Rick Barnes ($4.7 million) and Texas Tech's Chris Beard ($4.4 million).
Two of the highest-paid coaches -- Calipari and Texas football coach Tom Herman ($6.75 million) -- have not taken cuts even as their universities announced reduced pay for other employees, furloughs or layoffs. A Texas spokesman said the school is considering options as it finalizes its budget.
At 33 of the 75 schools, at least one coach agreed to renegotiate a contract to accept a pay cut amid the pandemic, according to the survey. They include Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh, who last month agreed to a one-year, 10% cut of his $7.5 million salary; Kansas basketball coach Bill Self ($4 million, 10% cut for six months); and Oklahoma football coach Lincoln Riley ($6.4 million, 10% cut for one year).
At 26 of the schools, those coaches have yet to see their pay reduced. Many work at public universities and are the highest-paid public employees in their states. A UCLA spokesperson said basketball coach Mick Cronin ($5.5 million) and football coach Chip Kelly ($3.5 million) have both indicated they would take pay cuts, but the department is awaiting guidance from the University of California president's office.
Agent Jimmy Sexton represents a handful of coaches who have taken pay cuts, but at least a dozen who have not, including football coaches Saban, Fisher, Georgia's Kirby Smart ($6.9 million), Auburn's Gus Malzahn ($6.8 million) and Florida's Dan Mullen ($6.1 million). Sexton declined to comment. None of the coaches who have not taken pay cuts responded to interview requests ESPN sent through their athletic departments.
One Sexton client, South Carolina's Will Muschamp ($4.4 million), said giving up 10% of his pay for one year was "a very easy decision." Muschamp said he and his wife had already decided he would offer up a pay cut when his athletic director, Ray Tanner, asked if he would consider it. The school is facing a $127 million shortfall and has announced a long list of cost-saving measures.
"Our state is going through a really difficult time; our university is going through a really difficult time," Muschamp said. "I've been fortunate in my coaching career."
Muschamp said he will not recoup the reduced salary with any type of back-end compensation, "and I'm fine with that. Best thing to do." His 10 assistant coaches, who combined for more than $5.6 million in 2019 salary, aren't taking pay cuts, but they are part of schoolwide furloughs.
Some, not all, coaches share colleges' burden amid coronavirus pandemic
Some coaches share colleges' pandemic burden
(some cut and pastes from the article):
NEARLY HALF OF major college football and men's basketball coaches have taken voluntary pay cuts in response to the financial crisis facing higher education because of the coronavirus pandemic, but most of the highest-paid coaches have not, an ESPN survey found.
Eight of the 10 top-paid football coaches and at least five of the 10 highest-paid men's basketball coaches -- all of whom earn more money than anyone else at their schools -- have not taken cuts.
Most of the schools that employ those coaches have not announced universitywide salary or job cuts, but they are all facing deep financial distress, accepting millions of dollars in taxpayer relief and, in most cases, implementing a range of cost-saving measures inside and outside athletics.
The list of those whose pay is unchanged includes the two highest-paid coaches in their respective sports: Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney, who earned $9.3 million in the 2019-20 season, and Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari, who earned $8.2 million. Others include, in football, Alabama's Nick Saban ($8.9 million) and Texas A&M's Jimbo Fisher ($7.5 million) and, in basketball, Tennessee's Rick Barnes ($4.7 million) and Texas Tech's Chris Beard ($4.4 million).
Two of the highest-paid coaches -- Calipari and Texas football coach Tom Herman ($6.75 million) -- have not taken cuts even as their universities announced reduced pay for other employees, furloughs or layoffs. A Texas spokesman said the school is considering options as it finalizes its budget.
At 33 of the 75 schools, at least one coach agreed to renegotiate a contract to accept a pay cut amid the pandemic, according to the survey. They include Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh, who last month agreed to a one-year, 10% cut of his $7.5 million salary; Kansas basketball coach Bill Self ($4 million, 10% cut for six months); and Oklahoma football coach Lincoln Riley ($6.4 million, 10% cut for one year).
At 26 of the schools, those coaches have yet to see their pay reduced. Many work at public universities and are the highest-paid public employees in their states. A UCLA spokesperson said basketball coach Mick Cronin ($5.5 million) and football coach Chip Kelly ($3.5 million) have both indicated they would take pay cuts, but the department is awaiting guidance from the University of California president's office.
Agent Jimmy Sexton represents a handful of coaches who have taken pay cuts, but at least a dozen who have not, including football coaches Saban, Fisher, Georgia's Kirby Smart ($6.9 million), Auburn's Gus Malzahn ($6.8 million) and Florida's Dan Mullen ($6.1 million). Sexton declined to comment. None of the coaches who have not taken pay cuts responded to interview requests ESPN sent through their athletic departments.
One Sexton client, South Carolina's Will Muschamp ($4.4 million), said giving up 10% of his pay for one year was "a very easy decision." Muschamp said he and his wife had already decided he would offer up a pay cut when his athletic director, Ray Tanner, asked if he would consider it. The school is facing a $127 million shortfall and has announced a long list of cost-saving measures.
"Our state is going through a really difficult time; our university is going through a really difficult time," Muschamp said. "I've been fortunate in my coaching career."
Muschamp said he will not recoup the reduced salary with any type of back-end compensation, "and I'm fine with that. Best thing to do." His 10 assistant coaches, who combined for more than $5.6 million in 2019 salary, aren't taking pay cuts, but they are part of schoolwide furloughs.
