Iowa coaching staff contracts & pay

[Stick Kitty]

Tom Brands' annual salary for this new deal starts $550,000 for the 2022-23 season. It jumps every year thereafter:

• $625,000 for the '23-24 season
• $700,000 for '24-25
• $725,000 for '25-26
• $750,000 for '26-27
• $775,000 for '27-28
• $800,000 for '28-29

This is a sizable salary increase for Brands, whose annual salary for both the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons was $350,000
This ends on 6/30/2029


Terry Brands and Ryan Morningstar had contract extensions through the 2026 season announced in early 2020, with Terry Brands earning significant base salary increases and guaranteed outside income, while salaries for other Iowa wrestling assistant roles can vary widely from stipends to six figures, as seen with ISU's Brent Metcalf earning over $130k, reflecting different levels of responsibility and program status.
University of Iowa (Hawkeyes)

• Terry Brands (Associate Head Coach): Saw substantial pay increases, including a base salary of $400,000 for the 2024-2026 seasons, plus $100,000 in guaranteed annual outside income during the extension period.
• Ryan Morningstar: Also received an extension, with his contract details generally aligning with the staff's success and extensions.

Iowa State University (Cyclones)

• Brent Metcalf (Former Assistant): Records from 2023 show him earning $136,350 as an Assistant Wrestling Coach, indicating high compensation at the top-tier program.

I can't find any Morningstar pay amounts?

But we are paying the Brands a combined $1.225 million for this product? Not even including Morningstar and Telford. So Terry as a top assistant is worth that much more that Metcalf as a top assistant? Boy Barta really gave it away to all the Iowa coaches (Fran included) before he left. What a mess left for Beth to navigate.

Regardless of my thoughts. Why would Beth renew Terry at that price even if his brother is set until 2029?

What she does with Terry & Morningstar will tell us a lot

 

[GableBeer]

https://publicrecordsrequests.iowa.uiowa.edu/Salary

You can find all salaries here.

 

[Trakker]

So you dont think iowa wrestling generates more money than isu?

Hard to believe brands gets paid more than a coach at wyoming or northern illinois or wartburg.

 

[Fatwoodchuck]

Beating a dead horse here but 2 new assistant coaches would go a lot further a lot faster than a full overhaul.

 

[Stick Kitty]

So you dont think iowa wrestling generates more money than isu?

Hard to believe brands gets paid more than a coach at wyoming or northern illinois or wartburg.

No chit Sherlock! Did I say a head coach at Iowa shouldnt be at the top of his peers?

I was just saying the difference between the top assistant at Iowa versus Iowa State really stands out.

Also this gives an idea of what Beth has to play with. $500k for the top assistant could attract better than Terry. I understand Terry is highly regarded but I have always been in the thinking do we really need to pay $500k for another Tom when we could benefit from a more diverse coach with an outside the Iowa room perspective.

 

[Stick Kitty]

Beating a dead horse here but 2 new assistant coaches would go a lot further a lot faster than a full overhaul.

Absolutely but Tom is a control freak who wont allow change. Plus not everyone can tolerate Tom's way or the highway approach despite the money.

 

[Trakker]

No chit Sherlock! Did I say a head coach at Iowa shouldnt be at the top of his peers?

I was just saying the difference between the top assistant at Iowa versus Iowa State really stands out.

Also this gives an idea of what Beth has to play with. $500k for the top assistant could attract better than Terry. I understand Terry is highly regarded but I have always been in the thinking do we really need to pay $500k for another Tom when we could benefit from a more diverse coach with an outside the Iowa room perspective.

So you are surprised that the asst coaches at probably the most iconic and all time successful/well known wrestling program makes significantly more than asst coaches coaches at other programs?

 

[WEH8ST8HAWK]

Morningstar made 128K and poor Bob made 47K

 

[Crablegs1]

So you dont think iowa wrestling generates more money than isu?

Hard to believe brands gets paid more than a coach at wyoming or northern illinois or wartburg.

They still operate at a loss.

 

[Anon1750896976]

They still operate at a loss.

Also, I think if you combine Tom and Terri’s it’s a ridiculous amount of money because both were not and I have not been necessary at that pay level. I’m not seeing Tom and Jerry aren’t necessary for the program or necessary, but if that level for an assistant coach what a joke.

 

[Crablegs1]

I think Terry is one of the biggest problems on the staff. Not that he’s a bad coach, I think both are great coaches. However, what does Terry bring that Tom can’t do? He’s an old man that wrestled the exact same style and has the exact same mentality. $400,000 for an assistant could bring in a ton of different guys with different mindsets and skills. A different perspective isn’t a bad thing. Just doesn’t seem like the best use of resources.

 

[GableBeer]

I think Terry is one of the biggest problems on the staff. Not that he’s a bad coach, I think both are great coaches. However, what does Terry bring that Tom can’t do? He’s an old man that wrestled the exact same style and has the exact same mentality. $400,000 for an assistant could bring in a ton of different guys with different mindsets and skills. A different perspective isn’t a bad thing. Just doesn’t seem like the best use of resources.

Unless there's bonuses not listed, Terry did not make $400k last year.

 

[Stick Kitty]

So you are surprised that the asst coaches at probably the most iconic and all time successful/well known wrestling program makes significantly more than asst coaches coaches at other programs?

Between Iowa & Iowa state that's a large gap for the top assistant (not the head coach). Also considering Metcalf is the coach in waiting its even more so IMO. I know you are phishing for a "gotcha" type thing here because you are a Brands guy and I am on your list now. Good luck with that. But none the less I find that discrepancy interesting and also speaks volumes to Pollard on some level as well.

 

[Stick Kitty]

I think Terry is one of the biggest problems on the staff. Not that he’s a bad coach, I think both are great coaches. However, what does Terry bring that Tom can’t do? He’s an old man that wrestled the exact same style and has the exact same mentality. $400,000 for an assistant could bring in a ton of different guys with different mindsets and skills. A different perspective isn’t a bad thing. Just doesn’t seem like the best use of resources.

Always thought that but I could tolerate it because he was Spencer's guy and he was our saving grace so dont mess with that.

But now Spencer's finished his college career and has had his Olympic shot (probably his best one even if he makes next team).

Why renew Terry again?

 

[masterhawk74]

Also, I think if you combine Tom and Terri’s it’s a ridiculous amount of money because both were not and I have not been necessary at that pay level. I’m not seeing Tom and Jerry aren’t necessary for the program or necessary, but if that level for an assistant coach what a joke.

 

[Stick Kitty]

View attachment 1142472
Unless there's bonuses not listed, Terry did not make $400k last year.

Thanks, That makes more sense than the article I googled.

 

[Stick Kitty]

Telford $47,625. Which makes sense for the 4th assistant position as that should ideally be for fresh out of college learning role that moves up and on. Which raises a question- how long has he been in this role?

 

[InTheCircle]

View attachment 1142472
Unless there's bonuses not listed, Terry did not make $400k last year.

You may not be seeing deferred compensation? Just spitballing.

 

[AndreTheHawk]

I think Terry is one of the biggest problems on the staff. Not that he’s a bad coach, I think both are great coaches. However, what does Terry bring that Tom can’t do? He’s an old man that wrestled the exact same style and has the exact same mentality. $400,000 for an assistant could bring in a ton of different guys with different mindsets and skills. A different perspective isn’t a bad thing. Just doesn’t seem like the best use of resources.

Maybe the Brands wanted to work together and Iowa was good with that? Both legendary Hawkeyes and Gable Disciples, and Twins who bleed black and gold.

Remember when Ohio State and some others were said to be wanting to hire Terry years ago? He likely could have Coached anywhere he wanted to, and Iowa probably thought it was better to have him in Iowa City than have to recruit and compete against him.

And Terry doesn't make that much as already stated. But, he's also been a Head Coach, which nobody else being discussed has (forget all the timelines, but he was also at the Olympic Training Center for a bit right? - so some input to the HWC as well). And he made it clear years ago he didn't want the duties a Head Coach has with the Administration, media members, etc.

I don't disagree with the fact they may be clones, and it certainly might be better to have a more diversified crew. But good to great Coaches are hard to find and I presume Iowa (nor Gable) blinked at that being a concern.

And whether Iowa makes money or not, they still generate more money than anyone else, and always have. So they can afford to pay more.

If I remember correctly, Iowa State bumped up the cash significantly for Dresser, and subsequently to hire assistants in St.John & Metcalf who IMO had nowhere near the Coaching resume to being making that kind of money out of the gate. (we all know why Iowa State did what they did, hoping to create Iowa West.......we can all make up our own minds how well that has worked over the subsequent years - they've certainly improved over time, but probably not as fast as they had hoped).

I think most Iowa fans would be good with moving Terry to the HWC, and replacing him with a Nolf, Kemerer, or whomever.

 

[Trakker]

Between Iowa & Iowa state that's a large gap for the top assistant (not the head coach). Also considering Metcalf is the coach in waiting its even more so IMO. I know you are phishing for a "gotcha" type thing here because you are a Brands guy and I am on your list now. Good luck with that. But none the less I find that discrepancy interesting and also speaks volumes to Pollard on some level as well.

First,.you also have to consider tenure in comparing terry and metcalfs salaries. That is part of the difference.


Second,.i am anything but a brands guy. I have grown tired of them. My problem is: we still are consistently a top 2-4 program and still the top name in college wrestling. So do we say that is not good enough? If so, and we bring someone else in, how long do we give them until we move on from consistently finishing a distant 2-5? And if being #1 or at least challenging for the spot is the goal in wrestling, why cannot it not be expected in football,.basketball and every other sport? Additionally, i just dont know who you could bring in as a replacement to to that could actually catch psu?

On the flip side,.i dont have any confidence that tom and staff can turn the tide. I dont see iowa winning an ncaa wrestling championship in toms remaining years,.so why not move on?


Still a die hard hawk fan but it aint getting any easier.

 

[sdvike]

Love the free market.

 

[Steevo36]

From my understanding Terry does a bulk of the coaching. He has all his guys' backs and im pretty sure they love him. I watched him corner Schriever at the SS 2-3 yrs ago and he went absolutely nuts when Cullen scored the winning td, made me want to run through a brick wall for him, couldn't imagine how his guys feel about him. Terry slander is not acceptable.

 

[Fencepost]

View attachment 1142472
Unless there's bonuses not listed, Terry did not make $400k last year.

The circus offered him more, but he chose to stay.

 

[WhiteDog125]

From my understanding Terry does a bulk of the coaching. He has all his guys' backs and im pretty sure they love him. I watched him corner Schriever at the SS 2-3 yrs ago and he went absolutely nuts when Cullen scored the winning td, made me want to run through a brick wall for him, couldn't imagine how his guys feel about him. Terry slander is not acceptable.

I’m still pro Terry to an extent he’s a nut but guys swear by him. Well yeah he does most of the coaching. Again, have you paid any attention to the HWC lately?? Dennis even coach anymore?

 

[Hawx224]

First,.you also have to consider tenure in comparing terry and metcalfs salaries. That is part of the difference.


Second,.i am anything but a brands guy. I have grown tired of them. My problem is: we still are consistently a top 2-4 program and still the top name in college wrestling. So do we say that is not good enough? If so, and we bring someone else in, how long do we give them until we move on from consistently finishing a distant 2-5? And if being #1 or at least challenging for the spot is the goal in wrestling, why cannot it not be expected in football,.basketball and every other sport? Additionally, i just dont know who you could bring in as a replacement to to that could actually catch psu?

On the flip side,.i dont have any confidence that tom and staff can turn the tide. I dont see iowa winning an ncaa wrestling championship in toms remaining years,.so why not move on?


Still a die hard hawk fan but it aint getting any easier.

Iowa is a blueblood in wrestling. That’s not true for football and basketball. Overall, our fanbase’s expectations for wrestling are the expectations Alabama has for football, Duke has for basketball, etc.

 

[FanInBlack]

 

[Sett1997]

From my understanding Terry does a bulk of the coaching. He has all his guys' backs and im pretty sure they love him. I watched him corner Schriever at the SS 2-3 yrs ago and he went absolutely nuts when Cullen scored the winning td, made me want to run through a brick wall for him, couldn't imagine how his guys feel about him. Terry slander is not acceptable.

Someone needs to tell him to coach these guys on being aggressive and getting some takedowns. Our team wrestles like Star and Telford. Lol

 

[FanInBlack]

Someone needs to tell him to coach these guys on being aggressive and getting some takedowns. Our team wrestles like Star and Telford. Lol

it doesn't matter what a coach knows or wants an athlete to do. It only matters what the athlete can do. paraphrasing Norm Parker. You cant coach things an athlete cant physically do against elite competition.

Recruit better. they had no issues coaching Spencer or Metcalf.

 

[kingstown]

So you dont think iowa wrestling generates more money than isu?

Hard to believe brands gets paid more than a coach at wyoming or northern illinois or wartburg.

I think it is proof he should have much better results. He shouldn't be losing duals or NCAA finishes to ISU.

 

[kingstown]

Beating a dead horse here but 2 new assistant coaches would go a lot further a lot faster than a full overhaul.

3. Three assistant coaches would go a lot further than 2. Replace Terry,M*, and BT with Nolf,Metcalf, and Gwiz and watch the scoring of the wrestlers explode.

 

[Split Shot]

Morningstar made 128K and poor Bob made 47K

Yeah, Bobby made 7K less than Moriah

 

[WhiteDog125]

I’m starting to agree with the cult theory Brock Rathbun said. What a mess. And it always has been…

 

[TheREALSpooner]

Between Iowa & Iowa state that's a large gap for the top assistant (not the head coach). Also considering Metcalf is the coach in waiting its even more so IMO. I know you are phishing for a "gotcha" type thing here because you are a Brands guy and I am on your list now. Good luck with that. But none the less I find that discrepancy interesting and also speaks volumes to Pollard on some level as well.

Actually, it speaks to many things. Among them:

1) ISU's standing in the college wrestling world. They are not an elite program.

2) ISU's athletic budget. It's stretched to the max and they are in a whole heap of trouble in the coming years, as the better conferences leave the B12 in the dust from a TV money standpoint.

3) I believe some of Brent's salary comes from the Cyclone wrestling club.

I believe #3 might also be true of Telford, which explains why his salary looks so low.

 

[AndreTheHawk]

I think it is proof he should have much better results. He shouldn't be losing duals or NCAA finishes to ISU.

Sure. And Notre Dame shouldn't be losing at Home to Northern Illinois in Football. And then...........

September 7th, 2024, South Bend, Indiana

Northern Illinois 16
#5 Notre Dame 14

Got any more tidbits of genius to share Nitty?

 

[IowaHawkeyes1989]

The HWC is not helping the situation. A bunch of old hawks hanging around the room, coached by an older hawk. Only 1 seems to be competing for big events and he’s not been thriving under Dennis. Head to toe needs looked at, bring in outside blood, hell the best coach Iowas had was a cyclone.

 

[FF141]

The HWC is not helping the situation. A bunch of old hawks hanging around the room, coached by an older hawk. Only 1 seems to be competing for big events and he’s not been thriving under Dennis. Head to toe needs looked at, bring in outside blood, hell the best coach Iowas had was a cyclone.

What needs to be looked at? The most prominent hawk wrestling donor has been vocal about what it will take to be a top tier RTC. Several million dollars because an RTC full of world team members are going to demand big money to train in IC plus be partners for the college team. NLWC and Cowboy RTC have the big money backing to do it and HWC doesn’t.

 

[Pakman770]

Desanto has been doing pretty well. Seems to have improved a lot with freestyle.

 

[Stick Kitty]

Desanto has been doing pretty well. Seems to have improved a lot with freestyle.

I agree a bit of improvement but what's his ceiling look like? Man what Austin would have given to be a SR last season- he would have been an NCAA champion with better timing. 133 is a much different animal from last year.

 

[kingstown]

Sure. And Notre Dame shouldn't be losing at Home to Northern Illinois in Football. And then...........

September 7th, 2024, South Bend, Indiana

Northern Illinois 16
#5 Notre Dame 14

Got any more tidbits of genius to share Nitty?

That is your line of thinking? Really this is what Iowa wrestling has become to you? As long as you can find another example of equal failure in a different sport everything is fine? It is just sad. I don't want Brands fired but I would think he would have enough pride to realize his better days have passed him. He is 2 years older than me and I retired from a demanding job 4 years ago. Time comes for everybody. Gable didn't last past his prime and I will be very surprised if Cael is still coaching when he gets to that age. The sport evolves too quickly to keep up for older people.

 

[Anon1750896976]

What needs to be looked at? The most prominent hawk wrestling donor has been vocal about what it will take to be a top tier RTC. Several million dollars because an RTC full of world team members are going to demand big money to train in IC plus be partners for the college team. NLWC and Cowboy RTC have the big money backing to do it and HWC doesn’t.

Moneys only part of equation. With hwc current staff noone is leaving okie st or nlwc for double the money to come here.