Skip Bertman is trying to undermine another track coach by telling the board and local media that he's offering Shaver a big pay raise and for some reason he just won't accept it. But the bottom line is that if Shaver continued to work under the old deal without a pay raise, his total compensation next year would be $163,000 at the minimum ($113,000 + $50,000), maybe more, and that's without Nike incentive bonuses. The four-year-old Nike deal has expired and is up for renewal. The going rate these days for track powerhouses is $50,000 - $75,000. For example, John McDonnell at Arkansas, who only coaches men, gets $70,000 from Adidas and Bev Kearney at Texas, who only coaches women, gets $60,000 from Nike. It's inconceivable that Shaver wouldn't get similar money from Nike, considering the fact that he coaches men and women, and both he and Bertman know it. So Bertman is telling Shaver "we'll raise you from $113,000 to $165,000, you'll no longer be doing business with Nike, and from now on we'll keep all the Nike money, including the incentive bonuses", and he's hoping that the board and local media will be unable or unwilling to see through his shell game that he's calling a "generous pay raise".
The first post and a rather detailed one concerning a not so frequent topic. Wait a minute...Shaver...is that you?
If, and that's a big if, this is true, then all tiger fans should be concerned. The overall health of the athletic department is very important and to not give a guy with Shaver's track record (pun intended) a raise seems irresponsible. Maybe I'm wrong but the guy has done well and should paid as one of the top track coaches in the country. Especially if he coaches both men and women.
shaver signed the new contract earlier today.. 3 years...165k 1st year 175k 2nd year and 185k 3rd year...
Track is not a revenue sport. Track lines up behind football, basketball, baseball, and womens basketball. That's just the way it is and it's the reason why Pat Henry left. He got pissed that Pokey made more than he did.
Track doesn't generate revenue anywhere. It doesn't generate revenue at Texas A&M where Pat Henry is being paid $300,000+, it doesn't generate revenue at Oregon where the head coach makes $600,000 and it doesn't generate revenues at Texas where two head coaches (men & women) make a combined salary of $400,000+. By the way, women's basketball may generate revenues at Tennessee, but at LSU, it's the biggest money loser in the athletic department. Last year it lost nearly $1.5 million. http://app1.lla.state.la.us/PublicReports.nsf/68D60BC42501601F8625727400545755/$FILE/00000A96.pdf
