Can you get by on $4 million per year?

[tornado]

I wonder if they interviewed any minority candidates?
Saban becomes the highest paid college coach in the country, making at least a MILLION more than the next highest paid coach.

http://www.jacksonville.com/apnews/stories/010407/D8MEM9K01.shtml

[ser_solace]

Yeah, I think that's just a ridiculous amount of money to spend on a college coach. Sure, it's less than what he was getting paid at the Dolphins, but that's got to be still close to other coaches' salaries in the NFL.

[Da Coach]

Is this more than Jim Les makes?

[IlliBraves]

All coaches and athletes are ridiculously overpaid.

[BI_Brave_alum]

All coaches and athletes are ridiculously overpaid.

Well chalk it up to supply and demand. people want to watch talented athletes, sports in NCAA and Pros are big business, and as long as people continue to follow them, like us and willing to pay expensive ticket prices, the $$ will be there for athletes.

but i do agree w/ you salaries are crazy!

[BTID]

Most fans who may never attend a game pay for the salaries too by patronizing the team and league sponsors and paying for cable or satellite television to help subsidize the broadcasts of those games. Team merchandising also plays a part in this. Whenever you buy a Garciapara or James or Manning jersey, you help the team and that helps them pay the wages for their players and the franchise's support staff.

[IlliBraves]

All coaches and athletes are ridiculously overpaid.

Well chalk it up to supply and demand. people want to watch talented athletes, sports in NCAA and Pros are big business, and as long as people continue to follow them, like us and willing to pay expensive ticket prices, the $$ will be there for athletes.

but i do agree w/ you salaries are crazy!

That is true. However, I find it ridiculous when the sole purpose for these universities is to offer a higher education. Yet, the athletic funds at many of these schools far outweighs that of education. Also, consider this. Where I live in Indiana, the head coach of the Purdue women's team makes the same amount as the head men's coach, and coach Painter had to get a raise to match that of the women's coach, even when the women can't fill up half of the arena.

[Fetz86]

...sole purpose for these universities is to offer a higher education.

The sole purpose of the universities is to make money for themselves. Especially private universities, its a service industry like any other, the bottom line is what drives them.