Stoops' salary a topic again
Published: 1/18/2011 8:27 AM
Last Modified: 1/18/2011 9:29 AM
This is the year Bob Stoops becomes Oklahoma's $5 million man.
That's $4.875 million in salary plus incentive bonuses that are well within reach for the Sooners, who seem to be on track for a preseason No. 1 ranking. Stoops will receive $110,000 if OU plays in a BCS game, $82,500 if the Sooners finish in the BCS top 10, and $88,000 if they win another Big 12 championship.
Don't be surprised if this becomes a topic throughout the coming year. It is a landmark figure, for one thing, and a salary some will find totally out of whack with these strained economic times.
Just this week, the OU Daily published a story titled "Bob Stoops cashes in on Sooner football success." Reporter Nicholas Harrison included details of the coach's contract, while pointing out "the U.S. Department of Education reported the OU football program generated $58,295,888 in revenue in 2009."
College football has become a rich man's game. If coaches' salaries are absurdly high, perhaps it's because of the absurd amount of money their trade generates. Perhaps. You should form your own conclusion.
Something else Harrison pointed out in his story: Coaches' salaries came up during athletic director Joe Castiglione's last two appearances before the OU Faculty Senate.
From the minutes of the May 11, 2009, meeting: "Prof. (Cecelia) Brown asked Mr. Castiglione about the coaches' raises. Mr. Castiglione replied that OU is in a unique environment, especially with a successful athletics program. The reason we are having success is because we have been able to generate the revenue necessary to best package our program.
"In many cases, our coaches are considered the best in the business. If we ignore the marketplace, then we have a problem with retention. Our coaches are the reason why the program is self-sustaining.
"The compensation of the coaches is commensurate with the market, their performance, and how their teams do overall. The increase in compensation is paid from sources that would not be possible without their success. It comes from radio and television, corporate sponsorship and licensing revenue…"
From the minutes of the May 10, 2010, meeting: "Prof. (Aimee) Franklin said she was informed that Mr. Castiglione was not at liberty to discuss any changes in coaches' salaries."
The University of Oklahoma Student Association president, vice president and student congress chair did not comment on Stoops' salary in Harrison's story. UOSA graduate student senate chair Derrell Cox said: "Stoops has inculcated respect and excellence in his coaching staff and football players during his tenure at OU… I think the case can be easily made that Stoops deserves the rewards he receives."
(Note to self: learn what "inculcated" means and use it in a story this year)
-- Guerin Emig
Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
