John Calipari gets paid heavily to be the coach of The University of Kentucky Men’s Basketball Team.
It is no secret that the NCAA Tournament is one of the biggest money makers in sports. Millions of dollars are spent annually in order to watch college kids try their best to put a round ball through a hoop. Kentucky Basketball fans are some of the biggest spenders of them all.
It just so happens that Kentucky Basketball is one of the largest revenue gainers throughout the month of March. With the flow of currency, comes the question as to what the administration should spend it on. The answer has been quite clear recently. The University of Kentucky and athletic director Mitch Barnhart have worked to get Kentucky Athletics the best possible coaches money can buy.
In a recent article published by the Washington Post, the specifics of the Money Madness were brought to the table. Author, Will Hobson cited some interesting facts as to what kind of revenue that Kentucky is dealing with.
In Comparison
Every coach made more than the school’s average full professor’s salary. -Will Hobson
Hobson went on to say that Head Coach John Calipari made $8.6 Million in 2016. For comparison, in 2006, Kentucky Coach Tubby Smith earned $2.6 Million as the Wildcats head man. Smith won the 1998 NCAA title. The cost for winning a title has obviously went through the roof. The rate of coach’s pay even within the realm of “non-revenue” sports like the Rifle team as well as the Gymnastics team are making upwards of $200,000 per season.
The steep rise in salary for Kentucky Athletics coaches is due to the success of various programs. For instance, the Kentucky Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams are consistently winners within their sport. Each team has provided the school with a certain brand that brings in added revenue consistent with their team’s success.
As success rises, money is earned. As money is earned, the athletic department can pay their coaches what they feel they are worth. The problem that arises is that every coach at Kentucky is now making more money than the average professor’s salary. The Kentucky Rifle coach, which is the lowest paid head coach at Kentucky made $133,000 last season according to Hobson. That surpasses the professor’s salary at $121,000.
Basic Supply and Demand
Thousands fill Rupp Arena nearly every home game that the Wildcats play. It doesn’t matter if its an exhibition against Stephen F. Austin, or a primetime blue-blood matchup against Duke, the attendance result is the same. Ticket sales are a large source of money income throughout the regular season. Kentucky Basketball is the wholesaler as the lead in ticket sales. Kentucky Football is not far behind.
"In 2016, Kentucky’s men’s basketball generated $19.5 million in ticket sales, and football generated $16.4 million. The other 20 varsity sports — combined — grossed about $1.3 million. – Will Hobson"
Fans buy tickets to see the big games. The Big Blue Nation has no problem dropping a couple of hundred dollars for seats to a matchup against Mississippi State at Rupp. Or when Georgia football comes to town, Commonwealth Stadium fills itself with Blue. Teams are able to pay more money to their coaches due to the fact that the primary revenue shared among the athletic departments as a whole are rightfully gained by mostly Men’s Basketball and Football.
The Pay is high, and Going up
Mitch Barnhart, who according to Hobson’s article makes nearly $700,000 a year, has worked to provide Kentucky athletics with some of the nation’s best facilities. A new multi million dollar Football locker room and performance facility was erected and became operational prior to this past season.
The plans for a new baseball stadium on Alumni Drive has broke ground as well. Kentucky is pouring money back into the athletic system and it all stems from successful seasons.
Don’t Hate the Player, Hate the Game
The bottom line is the fact that head coaches in all sports earn their pay just like any other occupation. Someone who doesn’t necessarily agree with what’s going on simply, cannot dismiss the fact that those individuals have worked hard to get where they are at as well.
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Whether its a softball coach, a golf coach, the coach of the rifle team, or the men’s basketball coach, those individuals earn their keep. Obviously if they weren’t worth the money, athletic departments would allocate that revenue among other destinations. Without the high success and revenue of Kentucky’s athletic teams, it may be noted that even the professors’ average salary of $121,000 may not even be able to be paid.