Why should a Coach make millions of dollars by a university and the professors get squat?

Question

fair or unfair?Is school to learn or to play sports?

Answer 1

I agree, although usually sports teams bring in more money than the academic depts do. Although the depts DO bring in money, from grants and fellowships and such.

But I don't think that justifies the enormous salaries.

Answer 2

depends if u plan to be a sports player when u grow up or not

anyway the Coachs coach teams that have games where fans pay money to come and see plus there are advertisers involved sometimes. So sure it might not be fair (since professors better education in the long run) but the coach's teams often bring in a lot of money for the colleges (thus a bigger pay check for them)

It wouldn't be fair if the professors make money off of the coach's teams but than again the professors don't get a part of the revenue of their students who later become successful because of the professor's lessons. Lifes not always fair i guess

Answer 3

My father teaches at a state university and his base salary is nearly $130,000 a year as a business professor with a PHD who has been teaching aleast since 1994. Sure it isn't millions - but its not bad. See: http://www.ele.uri.edu/aaup/2006Salary.htm and remember this isn't a state school like a Michigan or Ohio State let alone a private institution like Harvard, NYU, or Stanford for starters. The guy who says University professors don't bring money into schools doesn't know what he is talking about - they bring in plenty. It just does get the publicity that a major colleges sport team will. Most money a schools sport teams bring in go back into the sport teams - they don't usually benefit the general university in regards to funding. For example Lenard Stern giving over 30 million in the early 90's to have his name on the NYU school of business had nothing to do with NYU sports (which are almost non-existant). Michigan's football team's profits goes to cover all the losses they suffer in having to meet title nine requirements. Most colleges are lucky to break even on sports and most don't spend millions on their coaches.
Good Luck!!!

Answer 4

It is the way of the world today unfortunately. But professors don't do too badly, although starting salaries in many disciplines could be higher. Sports bring in a lot of money, and coaches can ask for their portion. Their contribution is easy to measure in wins and losses. It is much more difficult to measure the impact of a professor, although it is probably more profound for more people. Plus there are more professors than athletic coaches, and the coaches that make the big money are basketball and football for the big programs.

Answer 5

Sports bring in a lot of money to schools, professors don't usually. The more they win the better the attendance will be and the bigger games they play the more money they get. Also once they start winning the merchandise starts rolling, again more money. In order to maintain a level of winning they have to hire good coaches and with any job market you have to pay more to get the best.

Answer 6

When is the last time a professor donated millions of dollars to upgrade a library at a major university,as Joe Paterno did at Penn State? By the way, Joe was an English major at Brown.

A highly successful sports team can draw positive attention to a university, which can translate into a better qualtiy of applicant.

The money generated by highly successful college programs is frequently spread around to other parts of the university. (See Joe Paterno example above)

Answer 7

Sports bring in big bucks, and make a big name for the school with a winning team. Every university that engages in this has their priorities screwed on backwards, in my opinion, but, they don't ask my opinion. that's the way it was when I was in school many years ago - it hasn't really changed, only gotten worse. Coaches go after talented players because they will win more games - which sells more tickets, which gets more alumni to give more money - it's a very vicious circle with no end.

Answer 8

Doesn't seem fair, does it? But, look at it this way: How many English Lit professors pack 45,000 people into the stadium on a Fall afternoon? That is a lot of money coming into the school. Fair, no it is not, but unless you were born with the last name of Fair, it will not be anywhere on your birth certificate.

Answer 9

Sports bring mega-bucks to the schools so they will pay to get good coaches. I too agree that the priorities are wrong but they aren't asking me.

Answer 10

You're right, it's not equitable. I think it's based on the fact that coaches bring in more money to the school in ticket sales (and possibly donations) than the professors do in graduates donating to their school.