[NU Sports] Cardiac Cats!!!!! (fwd)

[Mike Nolan]

> I haven't seen any data that suggests that the salaries paid our coaches are
> low.  Maybe I missed something.
> 
> If so, please fill me in.
> 
> Last time I recall looking at this, there was some data available on what NU
> paid RW, and it was more than many coaches in the BT, though the total
> compensation package for some of the high profile coaches is going to be
> significantly higher because of endorsements, appearance fees, camps, etc.

Yes, RW was solidly in the middle of the ranks in the conference pay 
sheet, though the relative rankings change every year or two.  Most 
schools wind up paying more for their new coach than they did for their 
old coach, as Michigan is about to find out.  (Les Miles will cost them 
a minimum of $3 million a year, IMHO, more like $4 million.)

Of course for the head coach the lion's share of the money comes from
3rd party sources, such as shoes and uniforms.  (That's part of what made
Franny's $1200 'private newsletter' deal so dumb.)  The absence of a 
coaches show probably cost Walker $50K or so a year, plus the attendant 
visibility for the program.  But that's one area where being in one of 
the top 3 media markets hurts the Cats.  The stations can make more 
money selling ads for I Love Lucy reruns at 1AM, and probably get better 
ratings too.

I have no direct sources on this, but I'm fairly sure Northwestern's 
assistant coaches are getting deals comparable with most of the other 
schools in the conference, which is to say they're probably getting 
between $80K and $160K, plus a share of the camp revenue.  (A long-time
assistant does better at a school like Penn State, but NU doesn't have 
those long-timers yet, nor do any of our assistants have the track record 
to justify such a deal.)
--
Mike Nolan