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Since University of Louisville Football Coach Bobby Petrino signed a $25.5 million, 10-year contract extension July 1, his compensation package has garnered attention from both the university community and local media.
After all, $25.5 million is a lot of money, especially in comparison to other numbers. Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium, for example, is valued at just under two and half times Petrino’s compensation package.
Even with a $50 athletic fee added into each student’s ever-rising bill from the university–whose athletic department, by the way, has racked up a $2 million surplus for the past two years–students really don’t seem to mind.
But should they?
Perhaps the answer is no. Taking things from the perspective of all Petrino brings into the university, many students say his pay is worth it.
“He brings in the revenue,” said Meredith Stevenson, a graduate student in the Kent School of Social Work.
And indeed he does. The U of L football program brought in about $11.5 million in revenues last year.
Considering that figure alone, paying a head football coach in the Big East conference even a fraction of what his program brings into the school is merited.
Petrino’s bonuses-$10,000 here, $25,000 there-are what seem to catch some people’s eyes, especially when looking at his contract. But it seems important that he be rewarded, and held equally responsible, for making sure his football players maintain good grades. Petrino is slated to receive anywhere from $10,000 to $75,000, depending on the GPAs and graduation rates of his athletes.
With the university trying to improve graduation rates, this is a good way to help in that effort.
Even looking at what other coach’s at comparable schools-both within the Big East conference and in other conferences-Petrino’s pay doesn’t even begin to top the charts.
Petrino, who is set to make $800,000 in base pay this year, should be compared to the likes of Dave Wannstedt at Pittsburgh and Jim Leavitt at the University of South Florida, who both are already breaking the million-dollar mark each year. NCAA football coaches working in big-name programs, like Urban Meyer at Florida and Charlie Weiss at Notre Dame for example, are making at least two and three million dollars each year, respectively. Granted these coaches work with bigger programs, U of L, too, is on the rise.
Petrino’s contract extension that will put him at $1.3 million base pay by 2015 doesn’t seem so whopping, now does it?
Contract details:
Football coach’s work merits hefty contract
