Alabama to pay their strength coach like a head coach

[OburgOrange]

This is crazy. How can we ever expect to compete?






Meet the strength coach Alabama will pay like a head coach
Dan Wolken, USA TODAY Sports 9 a.m. EST December 15, 2015
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Strength and conditioning coach Scott Cochran is staying with Nick Saban rather than going to Georgia with Kirby Smart, Alabama announced on Monday.

This is a big deal because Cochran was considered arguably the best at his job in all of college football and losing him to an in-conference rival would have been perceived a big blow to Alabama, his close relationship with Smart notwithstanding.

But the more interesting part of this will come later when Alabama announces the financial aspects of what it took to keep Cochran.




According to AL.com, Cochran, who has been at Alabama since 2007, received a contract extension this year through 2017 that raised his salary to $420,000 per year. He almost certainly isn't staying at Alabama solely out of loyalty, so it's reasonable to assume he will again see his salary increased once again.



Let's say Cochran gets bumped up to $500,000 — and it could very well be more — that's essentially what Georgia Southern coach Willie Fritz made this year after winning a Sun Belt championship in 2014. It would also put Cochran on par with some of the highest-paid head coaches in the Mid-American Conference, ahead of what Matt Campbell made this year at Toledo ($495,000), Dino Babers made at Bowling Green ($413,000) and Rod Carey made at Northern Illinois ($400,000).

The second-highest paid coach in the MAC is Ohio's Frank Solich at $562,760 — all numbers from the USA TODAY Sports database — and it wouldn't be surprising if Cochran's salary was higher than that.


Strength coaches aren't part of the nine full-time, on-field assistants and thus not subject to a number of NCAA contact rules. That also makes them incredibly important because they are allowed to organize and monitor off-season workouts and training sessions. They essentially run the program for a good portion of the spring and summer. There is a reason Alabama's Derrick Henrymentioned Cochran so prominently in his Heisman Trophy speech Saturday.

Still, $500,000 and up for a strength coach? How soon until these guys all have agents and make $1 million in the SEC? This is new territory in college sports and illustrates the growing financial divide between the Power Five and the Group of Five.




http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...ec_type=trend&cx_ctrl_comp_grp=false&cxrecs_s



http://www.neutracorp.com/investors.html?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=referral




http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...rankings-chuck-pagano-jason-garrett/77344524/
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...-louis-stadium-proposal-los-angeles/77364386/

 

[KellySyracuse]

not sure how the NCAA would ever be able to regulate how much a school pays it's employees but it sure does point to the financial disparity between schools. There was an article not long ago about how students are subsidizing athletic departments with fees tacked onto their tuition, it's a war between the haves and the have nots.

 

[TheCusian]

This is crazy. How can we ever expect to compete? Meet the strength coach Alabama will pay like a head coach Dan Wolken, USA TODAY Sports 9 a.m. EST December 15, 2015 TWEET 16LINKEDIN 26COMMENTEMAILMORE Strength and conditioning coach Scott Cochran is staying with Nick Saban rather than going to Georgia with Kirby Smart, Alabama announced on Monday. This is a big deal because Cochran was considered arguably the best at his job in all of college football and losing him to an in-conference rival would have been perceived a big blow to Alabama, his close relationship with Smart notwithstanding. But the more interesting part of this will come later when Alabama announces the financial aspects of what it took to keep Cochran. According to AL.com, Cochran, who has been at Alabama since 2007, received a contract extension this year through 2017 that raised his salary to $420,000 per year. He almost certainly isn't staying at Alabama solely out of loyalty, so it's reasonable to assume he will again see his salary increased once again. Let's say Cochran gets bumped up to $500,000 — and it could very well be more — that's essentially what Georgia Southern coach Willie Fritz made this year after winning a Sun Belt championship in 2014. It would also put Cochran on par with some of the highest-paid head coaches in the Mid-American Conference, ahead of what Matt Campbell made this year at Toledo ($495,000), Dino Babers made at Bowling Green ($413,000) and Rod Carey made at Northern Illinois ($400,000). The second-highest paid coach in the MAC is Ohio's Frank Solich at $562,760 — all numbers from the USA TODAY Sports database — and it wouldn't be surprising if Cochran's salary was higher than that. Strength coaches aren't part of the nine full-time, on-field assistants and thus not subject to a number of NCAA contact rules. That also makes them incredibly important because they are allowed to organize and monitor off-season workouts and training sessions. They essentially run the program for a good portion of the spring and summer. There is a reason Alabama's Derrick Henrymentioned Cochran so prominently in his Heisman Trophy speech Saturday. Still, $500,000 and up for a strength coach? How soon until these guys all have agents and make $1 million in the SEC? This is new territory in college sports and illustrates the growing financial divide between the Power Five and the Group of Five. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...ec_type=trend&cx_ctrl_comp_grp=false&cxrecs_s http://www.neutracorp.com/investors.html?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=referral http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...rankings-chuck-pagano-jason-garrett/77344524/ http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...-louis-stadium-proposal-los-angeles/77364386/

Here's the thing. Is the guy worth that? Is anyone else willing to pay that much? How much better can he make your team?

He might be the best, but if there's no market, they are just throwing money away. The difference between this guy and our guy (who is? Any word?) is 400k or something?

 

[HastingsCuse]

Over the summer I spoke with the father of the Ole Miss strength and conditioning coach, Paul Jackson. Jackson is from White Plains and is a 2006 graduate of Montclair St. (NJ) He told me his son is paid $340K a year. $420K for a more experienced S&C coach at Alabama is not a big stretch.

 

[OburgOrange]

Over the summer I spoke with the father of the Ole Miss strength and conditioning coach, Paul Jackson. Jackson is from White Plains and is a 2006 graduate of Montclair St. (NJ) He told me his son is paid $340K a year. $420K for a more experienced S&C coach at Alabama is not a big stretch.

Good gig if you can get it. Wonder what Hicks makes retro44 ?

 

[texascpa]

Here's the thing. Is the guy worth that? Is anyone else willing to pay that much? How much better can he make your team?

He might be the best, but if there's no market, they are just throwing money away. The difference between this guy and our guy (who is? Any word?) is 400k or something?

If they're paying him that much then there's a market, at least for him.

 

[rocklloyd]

At least this guy from Alabama looks like a strength coach. Our guy, not so much

 

[721Comstock]

At least this guy from Alabama looks like a strength coach. Our former guy, not so much

FIFY.

Also, those that can't do - teach.
And those that can't teach - teach gym. (aka strength and fitness)

 

[retro44]

Good gig if you can get it. Wonder what Hicks makes retro44 ?

too -ing much

 

[CuseOnly]

Interesting read about winning football games and how it can generate overall revenue for the school. Syracuse hasn't yet realized you have to spend money first to make money.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/tomvanr...f-nick-saban-everyone-wants-to-go-to-alabama/

A few Paragraphs:
But the money flowing directly from Bryant-Denny Stadium is just the start. If you think that a top college football coach earning seven figures is overpaid, think again. To appreciate just how modest Saban’s $5.3 million salary is, take a wider look around campus. Since 2007, Tuscaloosa has swelled its undergraduate ranks by 33% to over 28,000 students. Faculty count has kept pace: up 400 since 2007 to over 1,700. But it’s more than growth – it’s where the growth is coming from. According to the school, less than a third of the 2007 freshman class of 4,538 students hailed from out of state. By the fall of 2012, more than half (52%) of a freshman class of 6,397 students did. Various data from US News and the New York Times shows that the school’s out-of-state tuition cost – nearly three times higher than the rate for in-state students – rose from $18,000 to $22,950 a year during that period.

Add it all up – more students from outside Alabama paying ever-increasing premium tuition bills – and the school realized $50 million more in out-of-state tuition revenue for last fall’s incoming class than it did for the same class in 2007 ($76 million vs. $26 million). Kick in the additional $8.5 million in in-state tuition, which rose to $9,200 a year from $6,400 over the same period, and overall tuition revenue rose to $104 million from $46 million for the respective 2012 and 2007 freshman classes. And to boot, the school’s most recent capital campaign (i.e. donations from alumni and others) raised $600 million for scholarships and facilities, the most ever.

For the admissions office, more applications mean more selectivity. Six years ago, 64% of students applying to the University of Alabama were accepted. By 2012, the acceptance rate had dropped to 53%. About one in four students from the 2012 freshman class carried a 4.0 high school GPA. The class also includes 241 National Merit Scholars, more than any other public university in the U.S.

Proof that spending money to win will cure most ills that Syracuse University has.

 

[supp]

If they're paying him that much then there's a market, at least for him.

Even if there is a market, it doesn't mean that it's an efficient one. You can only have one coach at a time. How much better must that guy be to be worth that premium? It's doubtful he is. People talk about markets like they're a natural phenomenon so everything that happens in them "makes sense". You could pay much less in this situation and not suffer very much difference in results. He might be good at what he does but so are many others.

 

[All4SU]

Next thing you know, those kids that run the Twitter accounts will be getting $500,000. Of course, they'll get paid in Bitcoin and Taco Bell coupons.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

Not many capitalists here, my first response was good for him. S&C coach didn't make the rules, he's good at what he does, and commands top dollar in basically a bidding war.

The how can we compete people? Who cares? we will never compete dollar for dollar with Large state schools who put such a heavy emphasis on football. They live for it from the top down, we don't.

Even if there is a market, it doesn't mean that it's an efficient one. You can only have one coach at a time. How much better must that guy be to be worth that premium? It's doubtful he is. People talk about markets like they're a natural phenomenon so everything that happens in them "makes sense". You could pay much less in this situation and not suffer very much difference in results. He might be good at what he does but so are many others.

Saban wanted to keep him, done deal. Sometimes, it's not the ones you keep or lose, it's the ones that don't go to competition.

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

not sure how the NCAA would ever be able to regulate how much a school pays it's employees but it sure does point to the financial disparity between schools. There was an article not long ago about how students are subsidizing athletic departments with fees tacked onto their tuition, it's a war between the haves and the have nots.

Students subsidize all kinds of things with student fees.

 

[texascpa]

Even if there is a market, it doesn't mean that it's an efficient one. You can only have one coach at a time. How much better must that guy be to be worth that premium? It's doubtful he is. People talk about markets like they're a natural phenomenon so everything that happens in them "makes sense". You could pay much less in this situation and not suffer very much difference in results. He might be good at what he does but so are many others.

Actually, it is a natural phenomenon, and the evidence is this guy making this amount of money with no particular explanation (though, I'm sure Alabama has a good one in their mind). Doesn't have to make sense, just is what it is. Sure, there are others, but Alabama believes he has all the qualities they want, and DON'T want their competition to have.

 

[dollarbill44]

FIFY. Also, those that can't do - teach. And those that can't teach - teach gym. (aka strength and fitness)

I've always hated this saying because it isn't true in so many cases. It's also absolutely not true when talking about strength coaches. Some of the best in the business are, or were, competitive strength athletes who can put up some serious numbers.

 

[721Comstock]

I've always hated this saying because it isn't true in so many cases. It's also absolutely not true when talking about strength coaches. Some of the best in the business are, or were, competitive strength athletes who can put up some serious numbers.

True, but - having done something at the highest levels yourself, is NOT a prerequisite for being great at coaching it.

I don't think Bill Belichick was ever much of a football player.
Bela Karolyi was certainly never a woman gymnast.

 

[All4SU]

The best coaches are usually the guys who had to work harder to play the game with less talent.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

I've always hated this saying because it isn't true in so many cases. It's also absolutely not true when talking about strength coaches. Some of the best in the business are, or were, competitive strength athletes who can put up some serious numbers.

Agree 100%. Tell this to Markus Paul or Rob Drummond, guys are still BEYOND fit. People here been looking at Hicks and K-12 Phys Ed teachers too long. It's just simply not true.

 

[SmilinBob]

Makes for an awesome system in place to have the players lift for cash. Players can go to the designated workout area and get credit for each thing they do thus some incentive to work harder. Win win for the staff, players and team. The sign above the equipment: "$ynergy"

 

[NineOneSeven]

I want to make that kind of money...

 

[Fly Rodder]

Students subsidize all kinds of things with student fees.

The ever rising cost to attend post-high school education is one of the biggest scams in America. The bubble hasn't burst yet, but its coming.

 

[RoysRunts]

Considering that it is a State School , What do Alabama Taxpayers think? IMO they look at the figures,see the Millions of dollars Alabama Football revenue brings into the State and yell "Roll Tide" Think about it like Milton Friedman and how much it cost to make a pencil. The Parking attendants,ticket takers,program sellers,ticket makers,ticket sellers,Souvenir Sellers,Souvenirs,Food vendors,Hotels,Restaurants, not to mention TV, and the many more you can think of . Think about all the transactions and the money made on "Bama Football. But theirs not a lot of Profs standing up telling the evil of Football and wanting Football downsized and on it goes . You get what you pay for.

 

[SUFaninNJ]

FIFY.

Also, those that can't do - teach.
And those that can't teach - teach gym. (aka strength and fitness)

As a teacher myself, I have to say that I'm not in agreement with this statement at all. You sound like my governor.

 

[Stern]

not sure how the NCAA would ever be able to regulate how much a school pays it's employees but it sure does point to the financial disparity between schools. There was an article not long ago about how students are subsidizing athletic departments with fees tacked onto their tuition, it's a war between the haves and the have nots.

There was a long debate on ESPN a week or so ago about how soon the SEC and Big 10 are going to start to split away from the P5 conferences in terms of money they generate and how much money they invest in football programs. That the money in those 2 conferences is so big and coming in so fast now that it won't be long until those 2 conferences will be at a level above the Big 12, Pac 12, and ACC. You will have the Big Power 2 conferences (SEC and Big 10) and then everyone else.

Stories like this bring validity to that thought and opinion. When a program can pay a strength coach that kind of money. It will be interesting to watch going forward

 

[Orangejet]

LSU boosters want to pony up $15MM to buy out Miles and Alabama pays their S/C coach $500K. Unreal and how do other teams compete with the big boys?

BTW - In Monte Burke's recent book on Nick Saban, Saban raved about Scott Cochran saying that he was one of the main reasons Bama has been successful over the years.