Does Leavitt Need a Raise?

[hbryan]

He is now less than in the middle of the pack and I think they need to revisit his contract and this time put in a huge buyout clause.  Show him that the school wants him and doesn't need other programs sniffing around to be motivated.  Oh and get him the Dining facility.

CINCINNATI: Bearcats coach Brian Kelly agreed to terms on a new five-year contract with No. 20 Cincinnati.

The new deal voids the remaining four years on Kelly's current contract. He'll receive a guaranteed salary between $1.2 million and $1.35 million over the next five years as well as performance-based incentives, the school said Monday.

The contract is pending approval by the university's board of trustees.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/12/18/sports/FBC-T25-Cincinnati-Kelly.php#end_main

[lerbut23]

If you look at what Leavitt has passed up - the answer is heck yea.

Give him assistant money and improved facilities and he will bring in some BCS revenue to cover his well deserved salary boost.

[DELdaBull]

He just got one.  Give him a dining hall and raises for his staff.

[Joe]

Ya, but he isn't being paid like a top 25 coach. He needs a raise

[Ruger7mmmag]

Ya, but he isn't being paid like a top 25 coach. He needs a raise

If we lose that bowl game, he won't be.  So let's not get ahead of ourselves.  It's very possible we could end up exactly where we were last year, just outside the top 25 looking in with a 9-4 record which would actually be a disappointment with the talent that was on this team this year.

People seem to only remember the 6-0 ride and forget that 0-3 skid.  That was a DISASTER folks.  One of the worst 3 week skids EVER in college football.

He's being paid exactly what he should be paid.  Right now, he's done nothing but get to the middle of the pack in the Big East and been to TERRIBLE bowl games.  The Sun Bowl is finally a decent bowl, but it's no BCS bowl by a long shot and we've yet to have a recruiting class crack the top 40.  Yes, recruiting isn't everything, but you don't start going way north of a million dollars a year until a coach can do a few things:

1)  Win a conference title and have the team competing for it every year.

2)  Get in a big time bowl game every year.

3)  Recruit at least one 5 star player every class (shows you are making waves in recruiting) and "lock down" your home town.

4)  Put up 10 win seasons every year.

5)  End up ranked every year.

So far how many can we cross of this list?

As much as I love CJL and think we have an awesome coach, we can't break the bank before he's earned it.  He's done VERY WELL but he's being PAID WELL for what he's delivered as well.  I have no problem opening up the wallets, but you have to have the revenue correspond to that.  We did much better this year, but you're talking about salaries starting to get near teams who sell out EVERY GAME EVERY YEAR and have been "bowling" for YEARS and been in many big ones which means they've had a ton more revenue from their sport. Not too mention merchandise sales and endorsements for the program or generation of booster $$$.

If you pay too much now, you are actually setting a scenario that is going to KILL YOU LATER when he actually does start delivering the goals up above.

[DELdaBull]

Ya, but he isn't being paid like a top 25 coach. He needs a raise

If we lose that bowl game, he won't be.  So let's not get ahead of ourselves.  It's very possible we could end up exactly where we were last year, just outside the top 25 looking in with a 9-4 record which would actually be a disappointment with the talent that was on this team this year.

People seem to only remember the 6-0 ride and forget that 0-3 skid.  That was a DISASTER folks.  One of the worst 3 week skids EVER in college football.

He's being paid exactly what he should be paid.  Right now, he's done nothing but get to the middle of the pack in the Big East and been to TERRIBLE bowl games.  The Sun Bowl is finally a decent bowl, but it's no BCS bowl by a long shot and we've yet to have a recruiting class crack the top 40.  Yes, recruiting isn't everything, but you don't start going way north of a million dollars a year until a coach can do a few things:

1)  Win a conference title and have the team competing for it every year.

2)  Get in a big time bowl game every year.

3)  Recruit at least one 5 star player every class (shows you are making waves in recruiting) and "lock down" your home town.

4)  Put up 10 win seasons every year.

5)  End up ranked every year.

So far how many can we cross of this list?

As much as I love CJL and think we have an awesome coach, we can't break the bank before he's earned it.  He's done VERY WELL but he's being PAID WELL for what he's delivered as well.  I have no problem opening up the wallets, but you have to have the revenue correspond to that.  We did much better this year, but you're talking about salaries starting to get near teams who sell out EVERY GAME EVERY YEAR and have been "bowling" for YEARS and been in many big ones which means they've had a ton more revenue from their sport. Not too mention merchandise sales and endorsements for the program or generation of booster $$$.

If you pay too much now, you are actually setting a scenario that is going to KILL YOU LATER when he actually does start delivering the goals up above.

Excellent Post! :clap :clap

[crambone]

Agrreed.  Great post.

[hbryan]

The only problem is that we have the exact same W/L record as two teams who just increased salaries to their coaches above Leavitt's and they're going to worse bowls than we are.  It's what the market will bear and obviously it will bear more than what we are paying Leavitt.  Pay a little more now or pay much more later - thats what last season and this season have indicated when it comes to coaches, their salaries, and facilities.  Nip it before it nips you - so to speak.

[GarySJ]

You don't start going way north of a million dollars a year until a coach can do a few things:

Hi, I'm 1994. Have we met?

There are 7-5 coaches in non-BCS leagues that make $1 million a year, or close to it. Your salary scale is totally unrealistic, especially in light of the money schools like Alabama have paid to attract top talent -- and the buyout fees schools like Texas A&M have paid to make bad coaches go away.

Besides, do you know how many teams "put up 10-win seasons every year?" Not many. Here's the list of schools that has done it four years out of the last five: Virginia Tech, Ohio State, Texas, Oklahoma, Southern Cal, Georgia, LSU, and (holding nose)... Boise State. If you want the Bulls to be in that class, USF either needs to spend a lot more money, or join the WAC.

[smazza]

he doesnt need a raise

win big east and you get a raise