Geno's State Contract

[RockyMTblue2]

Don't know why the paper put it up, but for the curious here it is: http://www.rep-am.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AuriemmaContract.pdf

I'd take it!

 

[TitleTown]

Don't know why the paper put it up, but for the curious here it is: http://www.rep-am.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AuriemmaContract.pdf

I'd take it!

Not a bad gig.

 

[bags27]

Why, because he's a state employee and all state employee salaries have to be transparent. I guess in a state currently struggling to make ends meet, an employee whose public compensation approaches 2.5M/year is news: 400k for salary; 2M for giving 15 speeches/year; other things like basketball camps, etc. as much as he wants/can earn on the side.

Folks may quibble over whether Geno's getting compensated as much as comparable (although is anyone comparable in talent?) MCBB coaches, but overall this seems depressingly competitive with all the other absurd salaries paid college coaches. And, while Geno's certainly worth more to the State of CT than any other public figure (maybe even including UConn's very, very fine president), it sends a very bad message about priorities. I know it's the world we live in, and I personally am delighted for Geno and for every dollar he earns (and he really does earn it), but it is still not a good thing.

 

[dr. uconn]

Well stated!

 

[TitleTown]

Why, because he's a state employee and all state employee salaries have to be transparent. I guess in a state currently struggling to make ends meet, an employee whose public compensation approaches 2.5M/year is news: 400k for salary; 2M for giving 15 speeches/year; other things like basketball camps, etc. as much as he wants/can earn on the side.

Folks may quibble over whether Geno's getting compensated as much as comparable (although is anyone comparable in talent?) MCBB coaches, but overall this seems depressingly competitive with all the other absurd salaries paid college coaches. And, while Geno's certainly worth more to the State of CT than any other public figure (maybe even including UConn's very, very fine president), it sends a very bad message about priorities. I know it's the world we live in, and I personally am delighted for Geno and for every dollar he earns (and he really does earn it), but it is still not a good thing.

Why is it not a "good thing"?

 

[HoopsFan21]

Why, because he's a state employee and all state employee salaries have to be transparent. I guess in a state currently struggling to make ends meet, an employee whose public compensation approaches 2.5M/year is news: 400k for salary; 2M for giving 15 speeches/year; other things like basketball camps, etc. as much as he wants/can earn on the side.

Folks may quibble over whether Geno's getting compensated as much as comparable (although is anyone comparable in talent?) MCBB coaches, but overall this seems depressingly competitive with all the other absurd salaries paid college coaches. And, while Geno's certainly worth more to the State of CT than any other public figure (maybe even including UConn's very, very fine president), it sends a very bad message about priorities. I know it's the world we live in, and I personally am delighted for Geno and for every dollar he earns (and he really does earn it), but it is still not a good thing.

I would just like to point out that Geno has to get paid more than other positions because there's a much smaller supply of best basketball coach of all time versus say university presidents.

 

[CL82]

Don't know why the paper put it up, but for the curious here it is: http://www.rep-am.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AuriemmaContract.pdf

I'd take it!

And 11 national championships from now, you'd likely be worth it.

 

[DefenseBB]

The salary itself of $400k is pretty small relatively speaking, where he and the school benefit is the "media" portion of $940,000 of 2 pmts per year due to the SNY and Radio contracts. The school receives excess from these vendors to help make money and compensate the school and defray some of the cost for this program. I think almost universally NO ONE has an issue with Geno or his Staffs compensation. However the men's basketball and football salaries are a different story....

 

[CL82]

The salary itself of $400k is pretty small relatively speaking, where he and the school benefit is the "media" portion of $940,000 of 2 pmts per year due to the SNY and Radio contracts. The school receives excess from these vendors to help make money and compensate the school and defray some of the cost for this program. I think almost universally NO ONE has an issue with Geno or his Staffs compensation. However the men's basketball and football salaries are a different story....

I doubt anyone complains much about KO's contract. He's a quality guy, a great spokesman for the university and already has a national championship to his credit.

Randy Edsall makes $1 million base. That is pretty low for a football coach.

Kind of not seeing your point.

 

[Paesano]

Look, this argument has been going on since Karl Marx had been roaming the planet. Some people are attracted to socialism and communism. They feel capitalism is immoral. From that perspective, his salary is wrong. The classic argument is to compare him to a brain surgeon or the person that discovers a new cancer drug. Does Geno bring more value to the world than those people? In most people's opinion, no. But in the world of capitalism, your salary is typically based on straight up supply and demand. Geno is in super high demand because he makes a ton of money for the university and state. The supply of Genos is one or, maybe, a handful if you want to be nice to his peers. So why not just go full bore communism if capitalism is immoral? I will not go there except to say that anyone who thinks the human race has evolved at some massive rate in the last 100 years and we are now living in a world that mirrors Star Trek is delusional.

I don't think it is at all illegal to post Geno's contract but, given that not all state employee contracts are randomly posted publicly, I have to ask why him? There is only one reason. To antagonize.

 

[bags27]

Look, this argument has been going on since Karl Marx had been roaming the planet. Some people are attracted to socialism and communism. They feel capitalism is immoral. From that perspective, his salary is wrong. The classic argument is to compare him to a brain surgeon or the person that discovers a new cancer drug. Does Geno bring more value to the world than those people? In most people's opinion, no. But in the world of capitalism, your salary is typically based on straight up supply and demand. Geno is in super high demand because he makes a ton of money for the university and state. The supply of Genos is one or, maybe, a handful if you want to be nice to his peers. So why not just go full bore communism if capitalism is immoral? I will not go there except to say that anyone who thinks the human race has evolved at some massive rate in the last 100 years and we are now living in a world that mirrors Star Trek is delusional.

I don't think it is at all illegal to post Geno's contract but, given that not all state employee contracts are randomly posted publicly, I have to ask why him? There is only one reason. To antagonize.

Well, first of all, I take issue with your invoking Marx. It has almost nothing to do with Marx or capitalism. Capitalism per se precedes Marx by 400 years; it's market capitalism brought on by the industrial revolution that sparked Marx (and a great number of other socialists before and after him). Geno's salary has only the very slightest to do with what Marx wrote. And as Marx said near the end of his life, he was no Marxist (accounting for the distortion of his theories). To the extent that the law of supply and demand works, it's been around since commodities were bartered, and we know of that since at least 4000 BCE.

But that's mere obnoxious pedantry on my part, and I wrote it because you're just doing some weird politically-motivated rhetorical riff without hard thinking. Of course salary is rarely simply pure supply and demand. Many occupations have job protection that shelters them precisely from supply and demand. And then there are unique positions that are far outside that law. For example, the president of the United States is the most important person in the world and yet his salary is about 1/10 of Geno's (recalling Babe Ruth's famous retort). And what, precisely IS the market demand for Geno? No major MCBB program (where the pay is higher) has made him an offer, at least according to Geno. And how many WCBB programs currently would be willing to exceed UConn's salary for him? Do we know this? And would he want to start over in whatever location that is?

I find it amusing that you are imposing some simplistic notion of the market when in fact so many members of the board argue that recruits should come to UConn for the emotional advantages of winning a national championship over (say) the potential economic advantages of going to a more academically highly ranked program. Point of fact: we know only that about 10 years ago, Geno was about to accept an offer from somewhere else, but his daughter convinced him to stay. That's an emotional decision, not one driven by the market.

Finally, when you accuse the Republican American of posting his salary for sinister reasons, did you check to see whether they posted other salaries? Obviously not. Here's the first link I found by simply googling:
salaries | Search Results | Republican-American

 

[JFC613]

Why, because he's a state employee and all state employee salaries have to be transparent. I guess in a state currently struggling to make ends meet, an employee whose public compensation approaches 2.5M/year is news: 400k for salary; 2M for giving 15 speeches/year; other things like basketball camps, etc. as much as he wants/can earn on the side.

Folks may quibble over whether Geno's getting compensated as much as comparable (although is anyone comparable in talent?) MCBB coaches, but overall this seems depressingly competitive with all the other absurd salaries paid college coaches. And, while Geno's certainly worth more to the State of CT than any other public figure (maybe even including UConn's very, very fine president), it sends a very bad message about priorities. I know it's the world we live in, and I personally am delighted for Geno and for every dollar he earns (and he really does earn it), but it is still not a good thing.

Well said. And there's also the issue of this being a discretionary expenditure, meaning we don't have to spend the money we do on these expensive sports teams/coaches. It's up to us to decide. Don't get me wrong, I love our WBB team, the staff and all and attend all their home games. But, looking at the total cost I'm not always sure that it gives our state as a whole the best return? We don't bring in money like an AL, MI or OSU. I think I recall that UConn's overall athletic budget is $72M annually? Hum.....hate to be practical, but what's our ROI on that money?

 

[Duncan Idaho]

UConn coaches salaries


Athletic Coach Salaries

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

Look, this argument has been going on since Karl Marx had been roaming the planet. Some people are attracted to socialism and communism. They feel capitalism is immoral. From that perspective, his salary is wrong. The classic argument is to compare him to a brain surgeon or the person that discovers a new cancer drug. Does Geno bring more value to the world than those people? In most people's opinion, no. But in the world of capitalism, your salary is typically based on straight up supply and demand. Geno is in super high demand because he makes a ton of money for the university and state. The supply of Genos is one or, maybe, a handful if you want to be nice to his peers. So why not just go full bore communism if capitalism is immoral? I will not go there except to say that anyone who thinks the human race has evolved at some massive rate in the last 100 years and we are now living in a world that mirrors Star Trek is delusional.

I don't think it is at all illegal to post Geno's contract but, given that not all state employee contracts are randomly posted publicly, I have to ask why him? There is only one reason. To antagonize.

But I have to say - no news that folks didn't already know about his salary. It is well documented.

I have no complaint about the supply and demand for coaches salaries, per se, but there are universities that are charging students fees to pay high salaries to coaches for what they hope is athletic success. The argument isn't about capitalism but about whether or not college sports are worth the expenditure to maintain them. And I am not making a strong argument - I do think coach's salaries are a drain on (at least some) colleges and universities - but - I'm a "booster" as it is called at both Rutgers and University of Arizona and I attended plenty of RU athletics when I lived in NJ and attend plenty of UofA stuff here.

And perhaps they posted Geno's contract because folks were curious? If you want to see someone else's contract, get enough people to ask and I'm sure they will post it. Geno is well liked in Connecticut, what he makes was no secret - so no antagonizing that I can see.

 

[meyers7]

Look, this argument has been going on since Karl Marx had been roaming the planet. Some people are attracted to socialism and communism. They feel capitalism is immoral. From that perspective, his salary is wrong. The classic argument is to compare him to a brain surgeon or the person that discovers a new cancer drug. Does Geno bring more value to the world than those people? In most people's opinion, no. But in the world of capitalism, your salary is typically based on straight up supply and demand. Geno is in super high demand because he makes a ton of money for the university and state. The supply of Genos is one or, maybe, a handful if you want to be nice to his peers. So why not just go full bore communism if capitalism is immoral? I will not go there except to say that anyone who thinks the human race has evolved at some massive rate in the last 100 years and we are now living in a world that mirrors Star Trek is delusional.

I still would love a Holodeck. And of course I don't want to be a Redshirt.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Why, because he's a state employee and all state employee salaries have to be transparent. I guess in a state currently struggling to make ends meet, an employee whose public compensation approaches 2.5M/year is news: 400k for salary; 2M for giving 15 speeches/year; other things like basketball camps, etc. as much as he wants/can earn on the side.

Folks may quibble over whether Geno's getting compensated as much as comparable (although is anyone comparable in talent?) MCBB coaches, but overall this seems depressingly competitive with all the other absurd salaries paid college coaches. And, while Geno's certainly worth more to the State of CT than any other public figure (maybe even including UConn's very, very fine president), it sends a very bad message about priorities. I know it's the world we live in, and I personally am delighted for Geno and for every dollar he earns (and he really does earn it), but it is still not a good thing.

As a former UConn/Ct employee , my annual salary wouldn't pay his bi-weekly taxes--transparency is accurate.
There are many ways of looking at the value of a persons physical and mental output. (Showing my Communistic tendencies) I cannot say Geno any more than most UConn Professors earns his salary. Work product is work product. i know this is a Uconn BB site--and I as all of you--believe in Geno and appreciate his efforts. However, think of the professors who year in and year out produce superb, not so great, and average professionals many more each year than Geno does with 12/15 BB players. (again my Communistic tendency or socialistic tendencies--)Sports are great for entertainment--but for life lessons and professional decision making--it is the rest of UConn that really makes a difference.
I expect this isn't the belief of others. (FYI--I am neither a socialist or Communist)

 

[huskyblooz]

Maybe I missed it, but how much does he get for his annual speech at the White House?

 

[BroadwayVa]

Well said. And there's also the issue of this being a discretionary expenditure, meaning we don't have to spend the money we do on these expensive sports teams/coaches. It's up to us to decide. Don't get me wrong, I love our WBB team, the staff and all and attend all their home games. But, looking at the total cost I'm not always sure that it gives our state as a whole the best return? We don't bring in money like an AL, MI or OSU. I think I recall that UConn's overall athletic budget is $72M annually? Hum.....hate to be practical, but what's our ROI on that money?

I agree with you--and I posted nearly the same elsewhere--But--if Geno wasn't paid as he is--he'd go to all those states you mention or others and reap their rewards- and Geno could then move on---yet internally--while I know professors, mostly, are well paid--it is grating to have a fellow employee getting perks and financial rewards --you can't even dream of.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Well, first of all, I take issue with your invoking Marx. It has almost nothing to do with Marx or capitalism. Capitalism per se precedes Marx by 400 years; it's market capitalism brought on by the industrial revolution that sparked Marx (and a great number of other socialists before and after him). Geno's salary has only the very slightest to do with what Marx wrote. And as Marx said near the end of his life, he was no Marxist (accounting for the distortion of his theories). To the extent that the law of supply and demand works, it's been around since commodities were bartered, and we know of that since at least 4000 BCE.

But that's mere obnoxious pedantry on my part, and I wrote it because you're just doing some weird politically-motivated rhetorical riff without hard thinking. Of course salary is rarely simply pure supply and demand. Many occupations have job protection that shelters them precisely from supply and demand. And then there are unique positions that are far outside that law. For example, the president of the United States is the most important person in the world and yet his salary is about 1/10 of Geno's (recalling Babe Ruth's famous retort). And what, precisely IS the market demand for Geno? No major MCBB program (where the pay is higher) has made him an offer, at least according to Geno. And how many WCBB programs currently would be willing to exceed UConn's salary for him? Do we know this? And would he want to start over in whatever location that is?

I find it amusing that you are imposing some simplistic notion of the market when in fact so many members of the board argue that recruits should come to UConn for the emotional advantages of winning a national championship over (say) the potential economic advantages of going to a more academically highly ranked program. Point of fact: we know only that about 10 years ago, Geno was about to accept an offer from somewhere else, but his daughter convinced him to stay. That's an emotional decision, not one driven by the market.

Finally, when you accuse the Republican American of posting his salary for sinister reasons, did you check to see whether they posted other salaries? Obviously not. Here's the first link I found by simply googling:
salaries | Search Results | Republican-American

The Karl Marx was a low blow--easy argument--wrongly stated. Since before coins were used for payment--people working side by side or a days walk away doing the same job- Expected the same pay. From the day I began working at age 14 I just took it for granted I'd be paid what I was worth.
I also expected those doing the same work in my institution would receive equal pay. Naive, but I believe in the concept. Geno, while a coach is in the same category as Professors--
While i personally believe the salary plus perks Geno gets is outrageous--and would love to see some of that money go directly to University teachings--the facts of life is--to Uconn Fans and the WBB team--as long as someone else is paying--he is worth it.

T

 

[Fairfield Fan]

Coach Geno earns half a year's salary ($200,000) for winning the conference regular and tournament championships, and the national championship. Sweet.

But didn't know that he's going into the last year of his contract. Any news about a renewal?

Did I miss something? This contract says it concludes in April of next year.

 

[TitleTown]

And what, precisely IS the market demand for Geno? No major MCBB program (where the pay is higher) has made him an offer, at least according to Geno. And how many WCBB programs currently would be willing to exceed UConn's salary for him? Do we know this? And would he want to start over in whatever location that is?

Auriemma has had offers to coach MCBB teams.

 

[CL82]

Why, because he's a state employee and all state employee salaries have to be transparent. I guess in a state currently struggling to make ends meet, an employee whose public compensation approaches 2.5M/year is news: 400k for salary; 2M for giving 15 speeches/year; other things like basketball camps, etc. as much as he wants/can earn on the side.

Folks may quibble over whether Geno's getting compensated as much as comparable (although is anyone comparable in talent?) MCBB coaches, but overall this seems depressingly competitive with all the other absurd salaries paid college coaches. And, while Geno's certainly worth more to the State of CT than any other public figure (maybe even including UConn's very, very fine president), it sends a very bad message about priorities. I know it's the world we live in, and I personally am delighted for Geno and for every dollar he earns (and he really does earn it), but it is still not a good thing.

I still don't understand what you perceive as being problematic about Geno's salary. What is "the wrong message" that you believe it sends? I just do not understand what you are trying to say.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

I still don't understand what you perceive as being problematic about Geno's salary. What is "the wrong message" that you believe it sends? I just do not understand what you are trying to say.

I think he is approaching the same argument that I was raising which is that there are lots of folks who believe that too much money is spent on athletic coach's salaries, and too little on other aspects of the university (or that they require too high a percentage of funds available to the school).

I thought he was quite plain that - in the scheme of the way things are - he had no problem with Geno's salary itself, but seemed to indicate that he doesn't really care for the way athletic salaries are.

I think this has been discussed variously before, and I'll stick to my intermediate position that I do think salaries are outrageous, but since I want my high-level sports I accept what they are.

 

[Nuyoika]

Ummmm what? When I watch and enjoy a UConn game I never spend a second thinking about how much anyone except the refs @ the game are getting paid. LOL this whole thread is beyond me.

 

[BigBird]

Help me out here... are athletic salaries at UConn paid by taxpayers and/or students? At my local Big Ten monolith they are not. If an athletics program operates at a surplus (in business, a profit), and if it raises it's own revenue, then can't it mostly pay what it pleases?

At Iowa, UConn alum Kirk Ferentz earns about 4.5 m annually (yikes!), but it does not drain the university coffers, as athletics at Iowa operates in the black, and has for years.

There are two separate issues to unravel. First, where do salary monies come from? And then, is it inappropriate (or immoral?) to pay a wage that seems out of step with other professionals in their respective fields?