Who is Screwing Up the College Coaching Profession?

Again with the guaranteed money line? Not true.

I agree with your statement about quality in the work force. I see a lot of situations where people have all the ability in the world but don't have the patience to build a solid foundation, work on it, and then enjoy the fruits of their labor down the road.

 

I think it starts with the universities. Firing coaches for a couple of bad seasons translates into coaches jumping ship for better jobs and more money.

Having said that, we've got to look on the bright side of this Miles to Michigan thing. IF, miles does not go to Michigan, we basically have a coach who has said, "I'm gonna be here for as longs as you all will keep me"

 

I don't mind a coach changing jobs once in a while...At some point, if you coach long enough, you become too predictable...What buys a coach time is winning a championship...Coach Beamer is an exception, I don't know why, maybe there are no expectations at Va. Tech...Coach Fulmer is getting some heat at Tennessee...He's done a good job over the years, but it's time for a change, just like Michigan...And don't get me started on Penn State and Florida State.

 

In most cases guaranteed money does not work. If Saban can pull this off then he's earned every dollar. I'm just not sure he can. For someone who keeps trying to lower expectations with coach speak he sure did not take that road with negotiating his current contract. 4 Million a year brings VERY HIGH EXPECTATIONS.

 

I think Saban can pull it off, just maybe not in time to squelch the 24/7 media hype that will surround his every move and cause the money backers in Tuscaloosa to pressure the crap out of the administration.

Was that a long enough sentence, yall?

WHITE HAT DAY - spread the word.

 

It is my understanding that F. Beemer has ties to Va Tech and had them before he started coaching there. That probably has something to do with that. I agree that you pose an interesting question but would counter with one of my own.

Why should coaches who have no traditional ties to an area or program feel loyalty to a fan base and administration who is going to turn on them as soon as they have a couple of bad seasons?

Lets look at some recent history:

Smoke Laval was an LSU guy, had been here with Bertman for years and knew the area and program. A couple of (what we consider) sub par seasons and he was gone.

Mike Shula at Bama the year before he was let go had a great season and was ranked in the top 5 at one time. I think he did as well as any coach could with the NCAA sanctions and the amount of coaching turnover and turmoil that they had experienced in recent years. However, one "hot commodity" coach is interested, one bad season and he was gone.


There are very few Joe Pa and Bobby Bowden situations in the world.

I don't like it either but I think it is important to recognize that it goes both ways.

 

And that's a contractor I'd NEVER hire. I don't know too many employees who expect their paycheck up front. A good majority of front liners just want to get paid.

Terry is right. The average CEO in America stays at a job less than 5 years. Lots of pressure to deliver results. Stockholders want value for their investment. Funny, it's often these same folks who bemoan the ridiculously high salaries of said CEO's.

As for joy coming from hard work and not money, well, everyone is different and motivated by different things. A type A employee who is ultra competitive and gains self esteem through money isn't going to be happy nor settle for a moderate income and a sit down job. Likewise, the employee who runs the front office and brings homemade goodies in has no interest in the pressure or stress of making the company money.

Money in and of itself doesn't necessarily invite corruption IMO. Sort of the guns don't kill people argument. I've seen more demons arise from the concept of incentives than any from guaranteed wealth. Incentives are often the root of strange and sometimes illegal behavior by employees. How many people sand bag their sales numbers? How many lie to customers to get more sales? How much company time is wasted each month when the sales numbers are released and folks are trying to figure out if they've been shorted? How many people walk in to ANY location and think, "gee, I wish I could find a salesperson". Saturn's sales have proved that theory.

Market forces and skill need will drive compensation. I agree that fair pay for work is the right approach. Problem is on both ends of the spectrum. Companies who want to maximize profit will stick with minimum wage and poor working conditions only to end up with a labor union that they deserve. On the other end is the CEO who is grossly overpayed, gets arrested for corruption and the shareholders move on to the next candidate.

Most if not all of these coaches have families, children. There is no shame or blame to understand why they want to earn as much money as a school will pay to help insure their children's financial future. Enjoying a nice lifestyle in the meantime certainly doesn't hurt.

 

Very well written. I come away with this. Corruption is in the person and incentives can tempt that hand. This is why there accountability is so important. You would think with Universities having the knowledge base they have they should be able to figure this mess out. Things in college football have changed extremely fast and no 2 universities are equal. I just hope we get to keep our coach!

 

ding ding ding. it's the same with college too. these coaches know the school doesn't care about them. a few subpar seasons (not even losing seasons) and he'll be run out of town.

i know i'm on the younger side of this message board but i know one rift between me and my grandfather is the "loyalty" thing with jobs. i don't understand how anyone could be loyal to a company while he doesn't understand why i'm not loyal to the people who sign my check.

well if the people who sign your check are loyal to you then you should be loyal to them. but if you know they'll throw you out as soon as you slip up then no way, loyalty doesn't matter.

for coaches, especially coach miles, they know that as soon as they fail expectations the fans are going to want to run them out. the administration will follow soon thereafter. it's just how it goes now.

 

Could not have said it better. And I hope you get to keep your coach too.