Hale: UK at Bottom of SEC in Asst. Coach Spending

[akaukswoosh]

Jon Hale ‏@JonHale_CJ 20h20 hours ago

New Story | Updated USA Today database shows UK ranked 30th nationally in football assistant coach spending in 2015 http://cjky.it/1TBeUqc

LEXINGTON, Ky. – After handing out raises to each of the returning assistant coaches before the 2015 season, Kentucky football’s assistant salary spending ranked 30th in the country, according to a new USA Today database.

Kentucky spent just more than $3 million on assistant coach salaries this year. That totaled ranked last among the 13 Southeastern Conference schools who reported their salaries to USA Today. Vanderbilt is not subject to open records laws as a private institution.

 

[CatsFanGG24]

We have given raises to the assistants who had seemed to earn it (Marrow, Ansley)...so I do not feel bad about being at the bottom. Eliot and basically Dawson both being first timers as coordinator probably help our number to the bottom...

They sure didn't earn any raises this year either - I think we would pay high dollar if we opened up a position and the opportunity to bring someone in worth it was there/

 

[gamalielkid]

Jon Hale ‏@JonHale_CJ 20h20 hours ago

New Story | Updated USA Today database shows UK ranked 30th nationally in football assistant coach spending in 2015 http://cjky.it/1TBeUqc

LEXINGTON, Ky. – After handing out raises to each of the returning assistant coaches before the 2015 season, Kentucky football’s assistant salary spending ranked 30th in the country, according to a new USA Today database.

Kentucky spent just more than $3 million on assistant coach salaries this year. That totaled ranked last among the 13 Southeastern Conference schools who reported their salaries to USA Today. Vanderbilt is not subject to open records laws as a private institution.

So, are you saying we are getting what we paid for? This past season seems to verify that position.

Go Big Blue!

 

[Anon1639625937]

Jon Hale ‏@JonHale_CJ 20h20 hours ago

New Story | Updated USA Today database shows UK ranked 30th nationally in football assistant coach spending in 2015 http://cjky.it/1TBeUqc

LEXINGTON, Ky. – After handing out raises to each of the returning assistant coaches before the 2015 season, Kentucky football’s assistant salary spending ranked 30th in the country, according to a new USA Today database.

Kentucky spent just more than $3 million on assistant coach salaries this year. That totaled ranked last among the 13 Southeastern Conference schools who reported their salaries to USA Today. Vanderbilt is not subject to open records laws as a private institution.

That is interesting. Shows you how persecutions color ones thinking. For some reason, I kind a had in the back of my mind, that when Stoops was hired, UK was spending more in the middle of the SEC ranks for our assistant coaches. I could not have been further from actuality. Brings one back to the ole saying, "you get what you pay for".

 

[BlueRaider22]

The ranking doesn't bother me. "Spending money" is not a race that interests me in the SEC. And being 30th nationally doesn't interest me either.

However, there is an angle that does get to me a little. This goes back to how I don't think Stoops took the easiest road when he came here. When interviewing with Barnhart about the UK HC job, I would've told him, "Look, I'm going to be a first time HC and in order for us to be successful I need a top dollar, proven staff around me."

 

[gobigblue812_rivals29381]

Spending lots of money on assistants doesn't guarantee success.

 

[kyjohn]

Jon Hale ‏@JonHale_CJ 20h20 hours ago

New Story | Updated USA Today database shows UK ranked 30th nationally in football assistant coach spending in 2015 http://cjky.it/1TBeUqc

LEXINGTON, Ky. – After handing out raises to each of the returning assistant coaches before the 2015 season, Kentucky football’s assistant salary spending ranked 30th in the country, according to a new USA Today database.

Kentucky spent just more than $3 million on assistant coach salaries this year. That totaled ranked last among the 13 Southeastern Conference schools who reported their salaries to USA Today. Vanderbilt is not subject to open records laws as a private institution.

With the assistants UK has.that's three million too much.

 

[gamalielkid]

Spending lots of money on assistants doesn't guarantee success.

I agree gobigblue, but paying $250,000 and not getting the job done is a waist of money in salary and more importantly, if we spend $4million for a head coach and don't succeed, maybe spending more for a proven assistant makes sense? Salaries for head coaches are out of line. When you realize we are paying a head coach $1 Million per win something seems out of line doesn't it? Nick Saban for instance is paid around $600,000 per win - we simply aren't getting our monies worth - lols!

Go Big Blue!

 

[zcats]

It explains the coordinators issue to a degree. We are paying about half what many SEC coordinators are paying. You can find guys who would come to Lexington for a couple of years if you paid them well.

 

[kyjohn]

It's interesting that states in the South that has nearly 50 percent of their population on public assistance or welfare can pay their football coaches and assistants such exorbitant salaries.

 

[Mr Schwump]

Spending lots of money on assistants doesn't guarantee success.

As this pertains to UK we don't know as UK has always been at the bottom of the pay scale.

 

[Rhavic]

Spending lots of money on assistants doesn't guarantee success.

You're right to a degree. Getting outstanding assistants and coordinators is more of a guarantee for success though, and the only way to do that, especially at a place like Kentucky, is spending lots of money.

Obviously it won't matter if we pay DJ Elliot $450,000 or if we pay him $1,750,000, he's still DJ Elliot. You can get a much better DC for the 1.75 million though.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

None of the current assistants really merit a raise IMO.

 

[truebluewildcat_rivals34254]

This is a business folks...college athletics have progressed far beyond just competition on the field...

Money drives all...

if we want to perform at a high level gonna have to pay at a high level...

"well win first and then get paid..."...yeah that conventional wisdom doesn't work anymore...especially in football where the success of the program is so heavily dependent on not only the talent but the development and coaching of that talent...and the assistants/coordinators are responsible for that...

and wasn't there something about fans and recruits buying into the hype before there is anything worth hyping in that article "all or nothing"...same goes for financial resources allocated for salary...

we know what happens when we are at the bottom of the assistant pay scale...let's see what happens if UK became a destination place for top assistants and coordinators because the salary packages are so attractive...

 

[JasonS.]

Is there any indication money is an issue in Stoops not having the staff he wants? As long as that's the case, kind of a non-story IMO. It's not like Stoops wanted Barnhart to join the bidding war last year for Will Muschamp or John Chavis as defensive coordinator (those guys both made the better part of $2 million this year as assistants).

I'd guess every person on our staff is making way more right now than they've ever made in their life (with exception for guys like Marrow who probably made more when he was playing in the NFL).

 

[Kats23]

One, we have young inexperienced coordinators. That's probably due to the low price tag. However, low prices will keep good coaches from really taking the program seriously. If you want to admit it or not, but when you know the competition doesn't pay, you're going to go elsewhere where you know the money is.

 

[CatDaddy4daWin]

Think this is more a reflection of the youth of this staff rather than us being 'cheap'. For once, I actually feel like UK is paying what is necessary to play with the big boys.

 

[167Hike]

Go back and see where we ranked when Stoops was hired in. At that time I think we came in 7th or 8th in assistance pay. Both N. Brown and DJ Elliott were paid 500k a piece. This is more a product of other guys at other programs getting more money and our guys not getting anything else. (or the bidding war that is starting over coordinators)

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

Jon Hale ‏@JonHale_CJ 20h20 hours ago

New Story | Updated USA Today database shows UK ranked 30th nationally in football assistant coach spending in 2015 http://cjky.it/1TBeUqc

LEXINGTON, Ky. – After handing out raises to each of the returning assistant coaches before the 2015 season, Kentucky football’s assistant salary spending ranked 30th in the country, according to a new USA Today database.

Kentucky spent just more than $3 million on assistant coach salaries this year. That totaled ranked last among the 13 Southeastern Conference schools who reported their salaries to USA Today. Vanderbilt is not subject to open records laws as a private institution.

The rapid increase in assistant pay, particularly coordinators is related to the success of the SEC network. The schools were going to be pocketing an extra 20 million but has turned out they are having to increase coaches salaries. I think UGA's was over 10mil last year


,

 

[MudererofCrows]

Stoops is the one choosing his coaching staff. There is no mandate from above. If you want to blame anyone for the coaching salary disparity blame Stoops for not choosing more qualified coaches with more experience who would require larger salaries.

That's the most disappointing in all this. I really wish Stoops had brought in an experienced top flight OC instead of Neal when he got here. And my thoughts on Dawson are that he's been a bust thus far. I don't mind Elliot because he was hungry and is a plus to recruiting from what I understand but his results in playcalling and the development of the defense have been middiling thus far.

 

[fuzz77]

The ranking doesn't bother me. "Spending money" is not a race that interests me in the SEC. And being 30th nationally doesn't interest me either.

However, there is an angle that does get to me a little. This goes back to how I don't think Stoops took the easiest road when he came here. When interviewing with Barnhart about the UK HC job, I would've told him, "Look, I'm going to be a first time HC and in order for us to be successful I need a top dollar, proven staff around me."

You are assuming that Stoops was given a $$ limit to what he could spend and that he didn't hire the best that he could get.
I'm pretty dang sure that if Stoops wanted a million or two to hire assistants, that money would be made available.

 

[fuzz77]

Stoops is the one choosing his coaching staff. There is no mandate from above. If you want to blame anyone for the coaching salary disparity blame Stoops for not choosing more qualified coaches with more experience who would require larger salaries.

That's the most disappointing in all this. I really wish Stoops had brought in an experienced top flight OC instead of Neal when he got here. And my thoughts on Dawson are that he's been a bust thus far. I don't mind Elliot because he was hungry and is a plus to recruiting from what I understand but his results in playcalling and the development of the defense have been middiling thus far.

Good Lord...Neal had been an OC for 5 years, 3 of those at a school in a P5 conference and had produced top ranked offenses. I don't recall anyone considering Neal as "too green" when he was hired by Stoops.

 

[fuzz77]

This is a business folks...college athletics have progressed far beyond just competition on the field...

Money drives all...

if we want to perform at a high level gonna have to pay at a high level...

"well win first and then get paid..."...yeah that conventional wisdom doesn't work anymore...especially in football where the success of the program is so heavily dependent on not only the talent but the development and coaching of that talent...and the assistants/coordinators are responsible for that...

and wasn't there something about fans and recruits buying into the hype before there is anything worth hyping in that article "all or nothing"...same goes for financial resources allocated for salary...

we know what happens when we are at the bottom of the assistant pay scale...let's see what happens if UK became a destination place for top assistants and coordinators because the salary packages are so attractive...

Paying a coach more doesn't make that coach a better coach and most everyone is paying their assistants pretty well so the guys who are "worth" 7 figure salaries will gladly wait for opportunities where they feel certain they will be successful. I promise you there are coaches who would never come to UK because they don't believe that they can be successful for whatever the reason or at any salary.

 

[gojvc]

Good Lord...Neal had been an OC for 5 years, 3 of those at a school in a P5 conference and had produced top ranked offenses. I don't recall anyone considering Neal as "too green" when he was hired by Stoops.

I miss Neal Brown.

 

[How Blue Can You Get?]

We have given raises to the assistants who had seemed to earn it (Marrow, Ansley)...so I do not feel bad about being at the bottom. Eliot and basically Dawson both being first timers as coordinator probably help our number to the bottom...

They sure didn't earn any raises this year either - I think we would pay high dollar if we opened up a position and the opportunity to bring someone in worth it was there/

The point is, we are ay the bottom salary wise, because we hire inexperienced coaches...hence the poor results. Nobody would argue to throw more money at the assistants we have. The argument is to hire big time experienced coordinators who have proven sucess....as s omeone else said, you get what you pay for. Stoops either sorely underestimated that, or barny refused to pony up for experienced coaches.

 

[anon_013cn8yrfncx2]

A bend don't break mindset probably translates into other areas as well .. CMS is probably not a risk taker in any area

 

[BIGCAT4LIFE]

Need experienced volunteers on this staff to stay status quo in regards to pay.

 

[kykats]

Stoops wanted Buckley. UL outbid us. Also wanted assistant that went to UT. Outbid for him too. He brought five star rb and WR with him. The best two players at UT. If UK wants big time fball they are going to pay more than big time schools pay to attract top coaches. So far there is no evidence to suggest UK really wants to pay the necessary amount to succeed at a high level.

 

[gamalielkid]

Stoops wanted Buckley. UL outbid us. Also wanted assistant that went to UT. Outbid for him too. He brought five star rb and WR with him. The best two players at UT. If UK wants big time fball they are going to pay more than big time schools pay to attract top coaches. So far there is no evidence to suggest UK really wants to pay the necessary amount to succeed at a high level.

What is the name of the Tennessee assistant?

Go Big Blue

 

[CatsFanGG24]

The point is, we are ay the bottom salary wise, because we hire inexperienced coaches...hence the poor results. Nobody would argue to throw more money at the assistants we have. The argument is to hire big time experienced coordinators who have proven sucess....as s omeone else said, you get what you pay for. Stoops either sorely underestimated that, or barny refused to pony up for experienced coaches.

No, Stoops had the ability to go after who he wanted...it's on him

 

[BlueRaider22]

You are assuming that Stoops was given a $$ limit to what he could spend and that he didn't hire the best that he could get.
I'm pretty dang sure that if Stoops wanted a million or two to hire assistants, that money would be made available.

No, I'm not assuming anything.

I'm saying that's how it should've went down.
-Stoops shouldve said, "Look, I'm a rookie HC. I need Dick Lebeau as my DC. I need Norv Turner as my OC. Then I need hall of fame position coaches."
-Barnhart should've said, "Great, you got it."


I have no idea how it actually went down.

 

[fuzz77]

No, I'm not assuming anything.

I'm saying that's how it should've went down.
-Stoops shouldve said, "Look, I'm a rookie HC. I need Dick Lebeau as my DC. I need Norv Turner as my OC. Then I need hall of fame position coaches."
-Barnhart should've said, "Great, you got it."


I have no idea how it actually went down.

All Mitch could ever promise would be to write whatever checks were needed for whoever he wanted to hire.
I'm still not sure how anyone could question Neal Brown's experience. There's a lot of big time OCs out there who were hired with less than 5 years experience.

 

[BlueRaider22]

I'm certainly not questioning the Brown hire.

 

[hmt5000]

we need to pay ansley now to at least give him a choice between us and uga instead of it just being "waiting for uga to offer". the other coaches need some kind of performance bonus put into their pay for this year above what is happening now. "we have to get better, tougher, commit less penalties" is all well and good but how bout putting it on paper with $$$ for reward. schlarman, if the team commits half the holding and false start penalties next year you get $100,000. eliot, if the D holds a qb to under 100 yards rushing you get $40,000/game that happens. dawson, if we score over 40 you get $40,000. mainord, if the wr's drop less than 2 passes/game you get $25,000 each game that happens.

not saying this staff isn't working hard but something like that might push us over the hump to where we are getting the kind of results we were expecting this year.

 

[Deeeefense]

Not a surprise since as some have pointed out, we have a fairly inexperienced staff especially at the coordinators.

I don't think money is an issues when it comes to football staffing, so this should not be interpreted to mean that we aren't spending enough.

 

[KentuckyWildcat4Life]

My opinion is they need to refund the university some of that money as non of them did their jobs well...

 

[JHB4UK]

This afternoon underscores how bottom of the barrel we are in terms of coordinators. Alabama hires Georgia's ex DC, who also was talking with Michigan. Ohio State hires a former NFL head coach as their new DC.

But on the plus side Cholly Strong can't give away his OC job, been turned down by TCU & Tulsa Co-OC's. Oh and both those guys didnt even call the plays.

 

[akaukswoosh]

This afternoon underscores how bottom of the barrel we are in terms of coordinators. Alabama hires Georgia's ex DC, who also was talking with Michigan. Ohio State hires a former NFL head coach as their new DC.

But on the plus side Cholly Strong can't give away his OC job, been turned down by TCU & Tulsa Co-OC's. Oh and both those guys didnt even call the plays.

Maybe Dawson should call Strong.:smiley:

 

[JHB4UK]

Oh and how awful does Georgia look in this situation. Their ex-DC is working right away for his new school, Alabama....yet the guy they gave their head coaching position to is still chained to his desk in Tuskaloosa working to win another championship for a conference rival.

Amazing how much other schools let Saban get away with