Football Coaches, Institutions of Higher Learning, and Finance

[ScoopKona]

I've seen articles that show only a few schools end up making money off football because it is so expensive.

And they're probably not making any money at all on their crew teams or field hockey. But if you take the aggregate, you can see that college sports pays for itself. And then there's the donations and bequests -- that's why the university presidents roll the dice on coaches. Take away Duke's basketball team, and watch how the alumni react.

NCAA Finances: Revenue & Expenses by School - USA TODAY

Which are the most profitable college athletic programs in the country? See a ranked listed, including total revenue and expenses. Brought to you by USA TODAY.

sportsdata.usatoday.com

 

[easyrider]

I see no relation between a student choosing a university for a finance degree, and what the football team's coach makes.

It's telling everyone what the priority is, which is recognition of sports over student. I'm surprised a guy like you didn't see this off the get go.

Bill

 

[davidvel]

It's telling everyone what the priority is which is recognition is sports over student. I'm surprised a guy like you didn't see this off the get go.

Bill

Bad overgeneralized assumption per usual. Many schools have plenty of money for both sides. Just because they pay a coach a lot of $$, does not mean they don't have sufficient resources to prioritize both sports and students studying finance.

 

[easyrider]

Bad overgeneralized assumption per usual. Many schools have plenty of money for both sides. Just because they pay a coach a lot of $$, does not mean they don't have sufficient resources to prioritize both sports and students studying finance.

It doesn't mean they don't have plenty of resources for everything but it does mean they prioritize sports over students.

Bill

 

[Rolltydr]

Just because they pay a coach a lot of $$, does not mean they don't have sufficient resources to prioritize both sports and students studying finance.

Doesn't bother me at all to pay a coach who is doing the job. You can try all you want, but there is no way you can justify to anyone but yourself, paying someone millions of dollars to sit on their ass because they failed at their job! They would have tens of millions more in resources if they didn't make such idiotic decisions.

 

[davidvel]

Doesn't bother me at all to pay a coach who is doing the job. You can try all you want, but there is no way you can justify to anyone but yourself, paying someone millions of dollars to sit on their ass because they failed at their job! They would have tens of millions more in resources if they didn't make such idiotic decisions.

When did I say that, much less try to justify "paying someone millions of dollars to sit on their ass because they failed at their job" to anyone? You really are making no sense. It is like you are arguing with the wind.

 

[Rolltydr]

Nobody else seemed to have trouble understanding. I believe you need to work on reading comprehension.

I had you on my ignore list until a couple weeks ago. Now I remember why. Thanks.

 

[Elan]

I hope Curt Cignetti sends James Franklin a nice Xmas basket this year.

Sent from my Pixel 9a using Tapatalk

 

[am1]

Doesn't bother me at all to pay a coach who is doing the job. You can try all you want, but there is no way you can justify to anyone but yourself, paying someone millions of dollars to sit on their ass because they failed at their job! They would have tens of millions more in resources if they didn't make such idiotic decisions.

That is what the market decides. Just like pro sports. It is guaranteed money. I guess in pro sports it is a little different with salary caps and the games teams can play to get around cap limits but are willing to pay someone to play for another team or stay home.

 

[Rolltydr]

Another one bites the dust! Another institution of higher education pays another football coach $50,000,000 to stop coming to work.

Sources: LSU fires coach Brian Kelly

The Tigers have lost at least three games in each of Kelly's four seasons at LSU.

sports.yahoo.com

 

[TolmiePeak]

Bad overgeneralized assumption per usual. Many schools have plenty of money for both sides. Just because they pay a coach a lot of $$, does not mean they don't have sufficient resources to prioritize both sports and students studying finance.

Bill and I are from Washington State. The athletic departments at our two major colleges lose millions of dollars every year. In 2024 the University of Washington athletic department lost $8m dollars. They had to rely on fees charged to low income students and funding transfers from academic programs to balance the budget. This is absolutely sick that our state is forcing students to take out loans so we can afford to pay our coach $8m per year.

 

[am1]

With the transfer portal there is a chance at more parity with mid majors just buying players like big boy have always done.

Also possible that a few million a year kills a players desire to practice and take hits. The opposite effect of what it should be but it is human nature.

 

[Rolltydr]

With the transfer portal there is a chance at more parity with mid majors just buying players like big boy have always done.

Also possible that a few million a year kills a players desire to practice and take hits. The opposite effect of what it should be but it is human nature.

There is more parity which is exactly the opposite of what the coaches and administrators tried to tell us would happen. Instead, this is the most competitive season I’ve seen in my lifetime. We’re into November this coming weekend and Indiana, Vanderbilt and Georgia Tech have a combined record of 23-1 and all are in the top 10! Most games in the power 4 conferences are at least competitive with fewer blowouts than in the past.

The NFL players make millions of dollars more than the college players and it doesn’t affect their desire. I don’t know why a college player, who is trying to be good enough to play in the NFL, would have less desire now. Very few of them are making in the millions. Top QBs and wide receivers are the only ones I’ve heard are getting that much.

 

[am1]

The NFL players make millions of dollars more than the college players and it doesn’t affect their desire. I don’t know why a college player, who is trying to be good enough to play in the NFL, would have less desire now. Very few of them are making in the millions. Top QBs and wide receivers are the only ones I’ve heard are getting that much.

Even 50 - 100k for a 20 year old could kill someone's drive. Before they had to make it to the NFL but now in college are making more then they ever will for some. Sure some, most it pushes them to work harder but for others it will make them complacent.

Then add in kids jumping around chasing NIL deals and starting positions so they can get NIL deals and there is a lot more risk and volatility. Just because a player is great at one school does not mean they will be great at the next one.

 

[Rolltydr]

Even 50 - 100k for a 20 year old could kill someone's drive. Before they had to make it to the NFL but now in college are making more then they ever will for some. Sure some, most it pushes them to work harder but for others it will make them complacent.

Then add in kids jumping around chasing NIL deals and starting positions so they can get NIL deals and there is a lot more risk and volatility. Just because a player is great at one school does not mean they will be great at the next one.

I don’t really understand your point in how it relates to paying failed coaches tens of millions of dollars to not work. How does a kid making a $50-100k, and that killing his drive, have anything to do with his coach making $10-12M while working and then getting paid another $50-100M to quit working because he was a failure?

 

[am1]

I don’t really understand your point in how it relates to paying failed coaches tens of millions of dollars to not work. How does a kid making a $50-100k, and that killing his drive, have anything to do with his coach making $10-12M while working and then getting paid another $50-100M to quit working because he was a failure?

Coaching is not the same now. Very easy to poach players now. Because of NIL deals some players are not as hungry as before as they already got "paid". The universities expect winning every year. With big money involved in NIL deals Universities are not wiling to wait longer for a coach to right the ship. Easy to fire a coach even with a large buyout but no guarantee the next coach is as good or better.

 

[Rolltydr]

Coaching is not the same now. Very easy to poach players now. Because of NIL deals some players are not as hungry as before as they already got "paid". The universities expect winning every year. With big money involved in NIL deals Universities are not wiling to wait longer for a coach to right the ship. Easy to fire a coach even with a large buyout but no guarantee the next coach is as good or better.

If I’m reading you correctly, the 18-22 year olds who are making in the tens of thousands for the most part, are no longer hungry enough, and are at fault that the coaches being paid tens of millions of dollars to coach them up are then paid tens of millions to not coach them at all. That’s a really interesting perspective.

 

[am1]

If I’m reading you correctly, the 18-22 year olds who are making in the tens of thousands for the most part, are no longer hungry enough, and are at fault that the coaches being paid tens of millions of dollars to coach them up are then paid tens of millions to not coach them at all. That’s a really interesting perspective.

No I am saying it is possible. Players quitting on their teams, transferring altogether or just getting caught up in "big money" and not living up to their potential or staying at their level. You do not think 50k for a 18 - 22 year old issuing to change how that kids practices and plays and not always in a good way?

The coach is only as good as their players. Overall it is a good thing that players are getting more than just a scholarship when coaches are getting paid 10's of millions to coach or not to coach. But all of this is killing the sport.

It will take a few years for a new normal to start and coaches need to be very sure who they are recruiting especially through the portal,

 

[Rolltydr]

You do not think 50k for a 18 - 22 year old issuing to change how that kids practices and plays and not always in a good way?

Not nearly as much as paying $10M or more to a person to recruit and coach the player. Especially, when that coach is going to get paid even more, to not coach! What the hell is their incentive then?

The coach is only as good as their players. Overall it is a good thing that players are getting more than just a scholarship when coaches are getting paid 10's of millions to coach or not to coach. But all of this is killing the sport.

First of all, the coach is responsible for signing the players. If they aren’t good enough, that’s on him. He is also responsible for hiring the staff that trains, game plans and develops those players. He’s responsible for the entire program. It’s not anyone else’s fault if he fails. It’s all on him!

As for your last comment, I’m 71 years old tomorrow and every substantive change that has happened in college sports; integration, tv rights, freshman eligibility, conference expansion, etc., and now NIL and transfer portal, have brought cries of “it’s going to kill the sport”. Two points; 1) college sports are more popular than ever, Football, men’s and women's basketball, baseball and even softball are garnering record attendance and tv ratings. 2) the athletes aren’t chattel. They are American citizens with the same rights as every other citizen. Almost every one of those substantive changes I mentioned were due to courts ruling that college athletes have the same rights as the rest of us. Allowing them to exercise those rights, and get paid for what is a full time job at the school of their choice, even if that changes from year to year, has resulted in the best college football season I can remember.

So, I wholeheartedly disagree with your assessment. I believe the multi-millionaire adults and their university administrators are responsible for their own failures, not the 18-22 year olds who are making a mere pittance by comparison. The athletes are giving us great games to watch. The schools are giving away tens of millions of dollars to the losing coaches. I find it much easier to believe it’s some of the coaches who aren’t motivated.

 

[am1]

Not nearly as much as paying $10M or more to a person to recruit and coach the player. Especially, when that coach is going to get paid even more, to not coach! What the hell is their incentive then?

First of all, the coach is responsible for signing the players. If they aren’t good enough, that’s on him. He is also responsible for hiring the staff that trains, game plans and develops those players. He’s responsible for the entire program. It’s not anyone else’s fault if he fails. It’s all on him!

The coaches do it for ego just as much as they do it for money. That's why even while getting paid to not coach they go out and find another job. Even OC or DC jobs.

Your right it's on a coach to find the best players and now with the tools at their disposal. No longer is getting to where a top programs uniform enough incentive.

I told my college coach different sport that it is the athlete who decides how much they want it. A coach can only do so much.

College sports may be bigger than ever but that does not mean it is better.

You do not have to agree with what I think. I have no problem with that.

But expect more highly paid coaches to be fired and higher guaranteed money to be offered.

 

[ScoopKona]

I find it much easier to believe it’s some of the coaches who aren’t motivated.

I doubt any of them lack motivation. I think it's more likely that they waltz into a program like Bill Belichick, believing the secret sauce which worked for them at their previous gig is going to bolt on to their new team seamlessly. Add to that a "my way or the highway" attitude. And the reality check that comes with starting 0-3 in his division. And you can see why universities play what is essentially a weird game of whack-a-mole with their coaches.

 

[TolmiePeak]

I doubt any of them lack motivation. I think it's more likely that they waltz into a program like Bill Belichick, believing the secret sauce which worked for them at their previous gig is going to bolt on to their new team seamlessly. Add to that a "my way or the highway" attitude. And the reality check that comes with starting 0-3 in his division. And you can see why universities play what is essentially a weird game of whack-a-mole with their coaches.

Yes it is a weird game. Hopefully the shenangins going on in college football will lead to its collapse. I doubt it though.

 

[Rolltydr]

The coaches do it for ego just as much as they do it for money. That's why even while getting paid to not coach they go out and find another job. Even OC or DC jobs.

Your right it's on a coach to find the best players and now with the tools at their disposal. No longer is getting to where a top programs uniform enough incentive.

I told my college coach different sport that it is the athlete who decides how much they want it. A coach can only do so much.

College sports may be bigger than ever but that does not mean it is better.

You do not have to agree with what I think. I have no problem with that.

But expect more highly paid coaches to be fired and higher guaranteed money to be offered.

Hopefully, this isn’t behind a paywall. It actually supports your point about coach’s egos. It humorously points out how crazy we (universities and college football fans collectively) are to be paying so much money to people who act like this.

College football is absolutely unhinged right now. It’s exactly why we love it

College football has always been governed by emotion, not logic. This is what happens when you add chaos to it.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Rolltydr]

Yes it is a weird game. Hopefully the shenangins going on in college football will lead to its collapse. I doubt it though.

Well, I certainly don’t want a large piece of the economy in hundreds of cities and many states to collapse. That would be devastating to those local economies, not to mention the damage to the universities themselves from the lost revenue. I don’t like the large buyout contracts, but most, if not all, of that money comes from rich boosters and large companies. I’d rather they spend that money on the academic side than give it to a coach they just fired.

 

[TolmiePeak]

Well, I certainly don’t want a large piece of the economy in hundreds of cities and many states to collapse. That would be devastating to those local economies, not to mention the damage to the universities themselves from the lost revenue. I don’t like the large buyout contracts, but most, if not all, of that money comes from rich boosters and large companies. I’d rather they spend that money on the academic side than give it to a coach they just fired.

Yes there would be some disruption. Longer term wouldn't having a high powered academic institution like MIT or Stanford be a far bigger booster to the local economy than an institution where college football is king?