Assistant Coach Raises

[CP87]

Leistikow just published this on Hawkcentral:

https://www.hawkcentral.com/story/s...rk-ferentz-chris-doyle-phil-parker/834541002/

The Hawkeye athletics department will be on the hook for $5,105,000 in the upcoming season — before bonuses — for football's 10 full-time assistants plus Chris Doyle, the nation's highest-paid college strength and conditioning coach.

The salary information was obtained through an open-records request by USA TODAY Sports' Steve Berkowitz.

Iowa's increase of $560,000 in assistant-coach pay from fiscal year 2018 can be attributed to two factors.

One, the addition of an NCAA-approved 10th assistant coach — new running backs coach Derrick Foster's base salary is $200,000.

Two, an increase of 7.9 percent staff-wide in assistants pay — the expected bump that is called for based on the terms of head coach Kirk Ferentz's contract. An 8 percent raise for assistants kicks in annually if the program reaches seven wins and a bowl game, plus a minimum graduation rate.

Iowa pays its assistants well, USA TODAY research shows, but not to the level of some the nation's elite programs.

Before Zach Smith's ouster, Ohio State was projected to pay its 10-man assistant staff plus its strength coach more than $7.6 million for the upcoming season. Clemson's total is around $7.3 million.

Doyle and defensive coordinator Phil Parker — who are entering their 20th year in the program — lead the way for Iowa's assistants, at $725,000 apiece. Iowa offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz was awarded the largest raise, with a $60,000 boost increasing his annual pay to $685,000.

A breakdown of each of the 11 coaches:


Kelvin Bell, recruiting coordinator/assistant defensive line
FY2018 salary: $270,000

FY2019 salary: $300,000

Increase: $30,000 (11.1 percent)

Kelton Copeland, wide receivers
FY2018 salary: $235,000

FY2019 salary: $255,000

Increase: $20,000 (8.5 percent)

Chris Doyle, strength and conditioning/director of football
FY2018 salary: $675,000

FY2019 salary: $725,000

Increase: $50,000 (7.4 percent)

Brian Ferentz, offensive coordinator/tight ends
FY2018 salary: $625,000

FY2019 salary: $685,000

Increase: $60,000 (8.8 percent)

Derrick Foster, running backs
FY2018 salary: (Hired in January 2018)

FY2019 salary: $200,000

Reese Morgan, defensive line
FY2018 salary: $460,000

FY2019 salary: $500,000

Increase: $40,000 (8.7 percent)

Ken O’Keefe, quarterbacks
FY2018 salary: $540,000

FY2019 salary: $575,000

Increase: $35,000 (6.5 percent)

Phil Parker, defensive coordinator
FY2018 salary: $675,000

FY2019 salary: $725,000

Increase: $50,000 (7.4 percent)

Tim Polasek, offensive line
FY2018 salary: $335,000

FY2019 salary: $355,000

Increase: $20,000 (6.0 percent)

Seth Wallace, linebackers/assistant defensive coordinator
FY2018 salary: $400,000

FY2019 salary: $435,000

Increase: $35,000 (8.8 percent)

LeVar Woods, special teams coordinator
FY2018 salary: $330,000

FY2019 salary: $350,000

Increase: $20,000 (6.1 percent)​

 

[CP87]

A couple of things come to mind:

• How is it decided who gets how much of a raise? Is there some sort of incentive structure in place? If so, what does it look like?
• I don't usually put a ton of thought into the "nepotism" cries, but the largest raise (percentage-wise) going to the coordinator of a unit that struggled mightily for much of the season seems out of bounds. KF has to realize the terrible optics of that, right? Does that have any influence on staff morale?

 

[tksirius]

BF: "Come on, Dad! We finished 116th in Total Offense, can I please get a raise?"

KF: "Sure, son. Great job on not finishing last. Here's an extra $60k"

 

[CP87]

BF: "Come on, Dad! We finished 116th in Total Offense, can I please get a raise?"

KF: "Sure, son. Great job on not finishing last. Here's an extra $60k"

He's just a whisker below Parker for Heaven's sake (it is a $40,000 whisker, but that is the average size of a whisker in P5 coaching circles).

 

[tksirius]

He's just a whisker below Parker for Heaven's sake (it is a $40,000 whisker, but that is the average size of a whisker in P5 coaching circles).

And don't forget about Kirk giving his son-in-law a job... Are the State of Iowa's nepotism laws really this lax?

 

[okeefe4prez]

BF: "Come on, Dad! We finished 116th in Total Offense, can I please get a raise?"

KF: "Sure, son. Great job on not finishing last. Here's an extra $60k"

Doyle walks in.

Doyle: Kurt, I didn't hospitalize or almost kill anyone this year.

Kurt: Okay, here's $50k.

Those salaries are just insane. It wasn't that long ago that Ken and Norm were making sub $300k. This is my problem with "non-profits." The sanctimonious assholes who divvy up the money have convinced themselves that as the money pot grows they deserve more and more of it. Iowa's finances have astronomically grown because (a) we have a loyal fan base who is getting robbed on season tickets and (b) Jim Delany's brilliance (at least in the short term) with the media rights contracts.

 

[tksirius]

Doyle walks in.

Doyle: Kurt, I didn't hospitalize or almost kill anyone this year.

Kurt: Okay, here's $50k.

Those salaries are just insane. It wasn't that long ago that Ken and Norm were making sub $300k. This is my problem with "non-profits." The sanctimonious assholes who divvy up the money have convinced themselves that as the money pot grows they deserve more and more of it. Iowa's finances have astronomically grown because (a) we have a loyal fan base who is getting robbed on season tickets and (b) Jim Delany's brilliance (at least in the short term) with the media rights contracts.

We'll probably hear Gary say that some other schools were contacting Brian, so the raise was warranted. #BuyoutBarta

 

[HawkGold]

Doyle walks in.

Doyle: Kurt, I didn't hospitalize or almost kill anyone this year.

Kurt: Okay, here's $50k.

Those salaries are just insane. It wasn't that long ago that Ken and Norm were making sub $300k. This is my problem with "non-profits." The sanctimonious assholes who divvy up the money have convinced themselves that as the money pot grows they deserve more and more of it. Iowa's finances have astronomically grown because (a) we have a loyal fan base who is getting robbed on season tickets and (b) Jim Delany's brilliance (at least in the short term) with the media rights contracts.

This is honestly a good listen. Explains a lot about power

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

I really don't think we are going to get over the hump until we have more Ferentz's on the coaching staff. I simply don't think you can pay them enough. Personally for me, beating ISU, OSU, and Nebraska is good enough to get everyone a raise.

 

[Fryowa]

Those salaries are just insane. It wasn't that long ago that Ken and Norm were making sub $300k. This is my problem with "non-profits." The sanctimonious assholes who divvy up the money have convinced themselves that as the money pot grows they deserve more and more of it

It’s the market driving it up. I get that half a mil to be an assistant is a lot, but if Iowa doesn’t keep up with the Joneses we’re not going to get anyone to come here.

And assistant coaches is one area that I’m 100% happy with at Iowa. I wouldn’t trade Doyle, Parker, O’K, Polasek, or Woods as a group for any 5 other Big Ten assistants out there. O’K can have the coordinator job as far as I’m concerned and send Brian packing to wherever Bob Diaco is. They can go out to dinner at night and non sequitur until their hearts’ content.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

It’s the market driving it up. I get that half a mil to be an assistant is a lot, but if Iowa doesn’t keep up with the Joneses we’re not going to get anyone to come here.

And assistant coaches is one area that I’m 100% happy with at Iowa. I wouldn’t trade Doyle, Parker, O’K, Polasek, or Woods as a group for any 5 other Big Ten assistants out there. O’K can have the coordinator job as far as I’m concerned and send Brian packing to wherever Bob Diaco is. They can go out to dinner at night and non sequitur until their hearts’ content.

So Brian gets one year in your mind and he's trash? Let's give him another year before we toss him in the dumpster. If his offense outperforms this year, will you admit you were wrong. I think you are going to be eating crow on Brian Ferentz as the OC. There were enough glimpses of some pretty heady coordinating last year to think that once he has a more solidified QB and offensive line, that he knows what he's doing. The good news is that in 40 days, we get to find out if Brian is worth his $680,000.

 

[tksirius]

So Brian gets one year in your mind and he's trash? Let's give him another year before we toss him in the dumpster. If his offense outperforms this year, will you admit you were wrong. I think you are going to be eating crow on Brian Ferentz as the OC. There were enough glimpses of some pretty heady coordinating last year to think that once he has a more solidified QB and offensive line, that he knows what he's doing. The good news is that in 40 days, we get to find out if Brian is worth his $680,000.

If the offense finishes ranked 116th again, you'll be here next year saying something similar along with a list of excuses. I'm sure of it.

 

[Fryowa]

So Brian gets one year in your mind and he's trash? Let's give him another year before we toss him in the dumpster. If his offense outperforms this year, will you admit you were wrong. I think you are going to be eating crow on Brian Ferentz as the OC. There were enough glimpses of some pretty heady coordinating last year to think that once he has a more solidified QB and offensive line, that he knows what he's doing. The good news is that in 40 days, we get to find out if Brian is worth his $680,000.

While I do think he’s not a qualified OC, that’s not what the point of my post was. The market drives salaries up, and Brian was hired due to nepotism. Whether he’s the best or worst, he was hired because of who his dad is.

 

[CP87]

It’s the market driving it up. I get that half a mil to be an assistant is a lot, but if Iowa doesn’t keep up with the Joneses we’re not going to get anyone to come here.

And assistant coaches is one area that I’m 100% happy with at Iowa. I wouldn’t trade Doyle, Parker, O’K, Polasek, or Woods as a group for any 5 other Big Ten assistants out there. O’K can have the coordinator job as far as I’m concerned and send Brian packing to wherever Bob Diaco is. They can go out to dinner at night and non sequitur until their hearts’ content.

You forgot Morgan.

I am in wait-and-see mode with Brian Ferentz.

 

[CP87]

So Brian gets one year in your mind and he's trash? Let's give him another year before we toss him in the dumpster. If his offense outperforms this year, will you admit you were wrong. I think you are going to be eating crow on Brian Ferentz as the OC. There were enough glimpses of some pretty heady coordinating last year to think that once he has a more solidified QB and offensive line, that he knows what he's doing. The good news is that in 40 days, we get to find out if Brian is worth his $680,000.

I think the design of his offense is solid; it is diverse and can take advantage of mismatches. I thought his game-planning showed some areas of promise, and some areas that clearly need improvement. At times it seemed like he was just throwing stuff against the wall with his play-calling, but he did dial up some beauties at times (long TDs against PSU, beating the blitz against N Texas, long Fant TD vs. Minn). I am hoping experience will greatly help with play-calling.

 

[Northside Hawk]

It’s the market driving it up. I get that half a mil to be an assistant is a lot, but if Iowa doesn’t keep up with the Joneses we’re not going to get anyone to come here.

And assistant coaches is one area that I’m 100% happy with at Iowa. I wouldn’t trade Doyle, Parker, O’K, Polasek, or Woods as a group for any 5 other Big Ten assistants out there. O’K can have the coordinator job as far as I’m concerned and send Brian packing to wherever Bob Diaco is. They can go out to dinner at night and non sequitur until their hearts’ content.

Bret Bielema claimed that in inability to pay, and therefore retain, his assistants was a big factor in him leaving Wisconsin in 2012.

Perhaps, like Barry Alvarez in 1987, some of them saw a lateral move as the best path to a coordinator position (In Barry's case, Iowa Defensive Coordinator Bill Brashier had that gig as long as Hayden Fry was the head coach and no defensive assistant was going to take it.)

Perhaps some assistants found Bert inolerable to work for and bailed at the first opportunity.

In any case, Alvarez quickly and in no uncertain terms set the record straight that Wisconsin assistant football coaches were getting paid fair market value.

Perhaps Bert was the one stealing money. He definitely boozed his share of it away around Madison during his tenure there.

 

[4thngoal]

#1 8% for 7 wins is dumb, especially when our premier ooc opponent is ISU. Total bs.
#2 I think BF will be fine, this year. If not you really do have to wonder what other oc's with more success are making.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

If the offense finishes ranked 116th again, you'll be here next year saying something similar along with a list of excuses. I'm sure of it.

I don't believe so. If we finish 116th and the offense looks like it did against Purdue and Wisconsin...I'll be the first to say I was wrong. The sad thing is that you and Fry will simply give the credit to someone else, okeefe, polesak, or whomever.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

While I do think he’s not a qualified OC, that’s not what the point of my post was. The market drives salaries up, and Brian was hired due to nepotism. Whether he’s the best or worst, he was hired because of who his dad is.

Ok...having the last name Ferentz certainly didn't hurt him...i concur. What you guys gloss over is that he spent and performed for 3-4 years with the Patriots...a great learning experience I'm sure. He then spent 5 years under Greg Davis...5 years. I've heard several former Patriot coaches speak very, very highly of him and his understanding of offensive football. It's not like he didn't pay his dues. In one year, he had a TE lead the country in TDs and his QB almost broke the TD record as a first year starter. With the injuries on the OL...it's a good result. (Queue Sirius Excuse Mantra). Was it perfect and were their some poor games...sure.

The thing I would point to is that we started throwing the ball downfield and he figured out how to get Fant and Wadley the ball. That was successful. We also had wide open guys in games for the first time I can remember. That's game planning. He used formations to completely befuddle defenses. I'm extremely optimistic if we can protect Stanley that this offense is going to be a handful to stop.

I'll admit I was wrong if it doesn't materialize...I think he did a great job last year.

 

[Ree4]