The boosters of the University of Alabama have paid off the $3.1 million that coach Nick Saban owed on his 8759 SF home. Not only did they pay it off, but they will pay the property taxes on it, about $10k. I guess this is common with some of the larger universities, but this guy makes $7,000,000 a year according to his contract, SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS! I know that he is a really good coach and has won 3 national titles for Alabama, and is the only coach to have won national titles at two different Div 1 schools(3 @ Alabama; 1 @ LSU) but that is a lot of money to pay someone and then turn around and provide them free housing. I guess it is all part of trying to ensure that he doesn't leave the school and coach somewhere else, rumor has it that Texas had made contact with him after Mack Brown left and numbers were being tossed around that had him being offered $10 mil. One thing, other than being a really good coach, that he is known for is leaving on his terms, when he so desires. This is something that probably scares Alabama a little.
“It’s not all that unusual in the world for universities to provide the housing. We want to keep him happy. We think he is the best coach in America.” said Scott Phelps assistant secretary of The Crimson Tide Foundation. ESPN
The amount of money that these universities pay their coaches is really mind blowing. The boosters donate large amounts of money to the universities to keep the championships coming, and keeping the coaches happy. But, when the championships don't come, the boosters get unhappy and the coach goes bye-bye. I guess this way, the university keeps the house for the next coach. I don't see Nick Saban being asked to leave anytime soon, but you never know how long he will stay on his own. You cant blame someone for making all the money that they can in their life, and you cant blame the school for wanting to win at any cost. The bad part, in my opinion, is that the fans have to pay for part of this too. Tickets to college football games pay for much of the salaries of coaches, and many other aspects of the program. If you want to go enjoy a live game on a Saturday afternoon nowadays, expect to pay hundreds of dollars for good seats, and some tickets cost that much for the bad seats. Believe me, I have looked to go watch my favorite college football team play and said “you gotta be kidding me!!” many times. But, the true die-hard fans will continue to pay and go to the games, because they love their teams and will do anything to watch them.
“It’s not all that unusual in the world for universities to provide the housing. We want to keep him happy. We think he is the best coach in America.” said Scott Phelps assistant secretary of The Crimson Tide Foundation. ESPN
The amount of money that these universities pay their coaches is really mind blowing. The boosters donate large amounts of money to the universities to keep the championships coming, and keeping the coaches happy. But, when the championships don't come, the boosters get unhappy and the coach goes bye-bye. I guess this way, the university keeps the house for the next coach. I don't see Nick Saban being asked to leave anytime soon, but you never know how long he will stay on his own. You cant blame someone for making all the money that they can in their life, and you cant blame the school for wanting to win at any cost. The bad part, in my opinion, is that the fans have to pay for part of this too. Tickets to college football games pay for much of the salaries of coaches, and many other aspects of the program. If you want to go enjoy a live game on a Saturday afternoon nowadays, expect to pay hundreds of dollars for good seats, and some tickets cost that much for the bad seats. Believe me, I have looked to go watch my favorite college football team play and said “you gotta be kidding me!!” many times. But, the true die-hard fans will continue to pay and go to the games, because they love their teams and will do anything to watch them.