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| Too much | 61% | 53 votes | Total: 87 votes | |
| Too little | 39% | 34 votes |
Too much
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In the current economic climate where bubbles rise and burst faster than French Champagne in a tall flute, everyone in the top earning sector is being paid too much, no matter how worthy and wise. This is the time for reality checks, not personal checks or inflated paychecks. Elite pay scales, have to scale back in humility and shame. Bubbles must be popped. Sincere budget review is in order for all of us, and that glass of champagne just might come in handy.
What true value should be placed upon state college sports, million dollar football and basketball coaches, titles and championships? I love sports. Football is great and basketball is sublime, but not more important than the stability of our state and our finances. What message are we sending to the people of Connecticut when our budget deficit is at $944 million while our public university pays its coaches multi million dollar salaries?
UCONN football and basketball along with Coaches Randy Edsall, Jim Calhoun and Geno Auriemma could take this opportunity to be true role models. A time when we need heroes now more than ever. A time when President Obama is calling for executive salary reform to max salaries out at a half a million dollars. The coaches could, (in the spirit of Leonard Abess Jr., a Miami banker who gave his millions to bank employees and retirees), distribute their excess surpluses to others more needy than they.
As a UCONN Alumni, nobody loves UCONN Men's and Women's basketball more than I. As a freshman, UCONN had a second rate hoops team, a modest pavilion that seated the students, faculty and fans with room to spare. We even had space for weight training, and other athletic endeavors. Nonetheless, hale and hearty students stampeded the pavilion with faces ablaze in blue and white, husky hats on clever noggins and anything that could make one hell of a racket in support of a sweet foul shot.
It was a simple time full of fun, but the sports program at that time did not draw the talent and interest that makes a good university great. With the hiring of Jim Calhoun and Geno Auriemma a bright new era was ushered in to dear old UCONN. Some might say, rightly, that those coaches, "made" UCONN. A top notch university that now benefits to the tune of $12 million from those world class coaches.
But we all know the jig is up. The inflated must deflate so we can eat, save, borrow and lend again. When things like home prices, food costs, healthcare costs and extreme salaries are once again in line, everything else will be on it's way to in line as well. The good that the coaches have done is not debatable. They are stars that have created stars. But, we need homes, balanced budgets and access for all children to healthcare and University. We need these things more than they need million dollar salaries, chartered flights and five star restaurants. It will not be right until our heroes along with the rest of us can sit down together with a nice glass of Champagne, something modest like Veuve Clicquot NV Brut Yellow Label, and toast prosperity in life and in basketball.
Learn more about this author, Lauren Bove.
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Too little
Are UConn Coaches paid what they are worth?
In order to determine whether the coaches of UConn are worth what they are being paid, one has to look at a number of factors, namely the schedule, performance, contractual agreement, incentives, media attractiveness, revenue generation contribution, performance of fund-raising committee, the prevailing market rate and the experience they brought to the table.
The schedule for most of UConn coaches are very hectic with baseball , having 62 matches, women and men basketball l35 and 17 respectively, men and women soccer 24 and 25 respectively , and football with 13 to name a few. These coaches in many cases, has to travel across the state for several weeks over a four month period, and this must strenuous effects on the mental constitution. They have to sacrifice time with their families in some cases in order to mould the lives of young aspirants, many of whom will become millionaires, Olympic Medalist and successful business executives.
The UConn Men's Basketball team seems to be the most outstanding performing team in the institution in that currently they are 2nd rank in the big ten of the competition. This means they are constantly under pressure and have to remain on the cutting edge to maintain their status. Their performances are also keyed critically to the ability of the coach to motivate them, and also to withstand the critical examinations of ESPN, CBS, FSN, ESPNU, and WTIC AM 1080, that covers their matches.
The coaches of teams that can achieve outstanding and consistent performances, deserves every cent that they are paid. No money can fully reward the level of skill, courage and commitment that are packaged and delivered to the minds of these scholarly and athletic students, so that they can rise to the top of their game.
The performance of the team attracts the media and they in turn have to pay for the coverage of these matches. The money earned goes into the revenue for the institution so that it can continuously employ high quality coaches. The Media will not attracted to non- performers and will not throw their monies after losers.
The talented students on the UConn teams also are lifelong beneficiaries of the media coverage in that they can be easily spotted and recruited by talent scouts for careers in the NBA, NFL and other national sporting entities.
Without a quality coach to offer the guidance necessary to propel these young and raw talents, there would be little for media and the national and international sporting world to enjoy. The families of students who have succeeded are also able to benefit financially and changed their lives for the better.
A coach that can rack up 800 wins in his career must be something special, and deserves all the rewards that come with the job. The institution is a big one and wants to protect its name and historical standards, so it will access corporate and other fund-raising means to retain the best coaches for the job. This also an indication of the high value placed on the services of the coaching team.
The incentive to perform is also a good motivation for coaches to perform, and this may be one of the reasons behind the success of the basketball and other teams.
Every time the team reaches the final four, there are additional payments to be earned. Base remunerations of $64,000, $68,000, and $80,000 paid to UConn Baseball, Men's Hockey, and Women's Field Hockey Coaches respectively, are not even enough for the skills, knowledge, and experience these coaches bring to the table to help mold young lives and make them ready for life challenges.
College coaching is also big business these days, with Bruce Weber earning $550,000 and Jim Calhoun exceeding $1m mark. Their high end salaries are matched by excellent performances, and it makes them motivators for other coaches as well as targets for recruitment by NBA teams.
No one should envy these coaches for what they have earned, because they are the ones that have to spend sleepless hours developing strategies, and finding the right combinations to execute them, so that the teams can achieve national and enduring success. The success is also a great generator of revenue, marketing advantage, and media recognition for the institution.
The recognition also helps the institution to attract high quality students into it and enable the maintenance of high levels of scholarship.
The UConn Coaches overall, are more than worth what they are being paid, and as long as they maintain excellent performances and achieve the goals and objectives set , they should be paid whatever their contracts stipulates. They are workmen and women who are worthy of their rewards regardless of the amounts.
Learn more about this author, George Leard.
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