Stockstill - Highest Paid Coach in SBC

[zephyr]

_ That is exactly what they are doing. Stockstill took over a program in shambles, I'll admit is tasn't nearly as bad off as UL was when Baldwin left, but he was short 10-15 scholarships due to sanctions. He has since brought MT to the top of the Belt fighting with Troy for supremacy. He deserves the salary increase.

UL should pay in the 400-500K range as well. If we want to keep improving we have to pay for it. You get what you pay for. _

Stockstill and MT have not been at the head of the SBC. They didn't win it this year and I don't think they've won it in recent memory, if ever. They had a tremendous year but have underachieved several of the past few years and he was on a bit of the hotseat before this year. I think its a bit premature. However, he almost went to Memphis and I applaud their administration for putting money in his pocket to keep him.

[zephyr]

_ Forget Middle and Troy. In two years FIU will be tough. Bank on it. They have the highest atheletic budget of all Sun Belt schools and a coach who can motivate kids. They have taken two great guys from our backyard this year. The where guys that other big programs where looking at also. Hopefully they had big shoes to fill and promised them early playing time, otherwise we're in trouble. _

And this was the year that FIU was banking on that breakout year and they floundered. They've been getting quality players for a while, especially on defense but they still haven't put it together. I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just saying that they are in no better a position than they were two years ago and they haven't gotten it done yet.

[Parrott]

Stockstill turned down better money at both Memphis and East Carolina. He took the team to a bowl in 2006 (Motor City) and 2009, winning the New Orleans Bowl. Defensive coordinator Manny Diaz left for Mississippi State, but most of the team returns in 2010. Plus he has restored the academic and APR issues. Bottom line is that MTSU is rewarding him for staying instead of jumping ship. If MTSU wins again in 2010, he will get more looks from other schools.

As for FIU, few teams in the country dealt with more injuries in 2009. I believe the Golden Panthers had at least eight season-ending injuries to starters or backups and ended up playing the nation's second-most true freshmen (17) behind only Tulane (18) and Texas A&M (18). In 2010, their projected starting QB is former Mississippi State All-SEC Freshman Wesley Carroll, plus WR TY Hilton is back. Their backs are young but talented. Once their line play improves, they will be a beast with all of the talent there and the league's largest budget. ($21 million of the school's $24 million budget is from just student fees.)

igeaux.mobi

[Oiler]

Where does Bustle's salary rank among his peers in the conference? Is the growth of the football program at UL being limited by the salary of the head coach position? The question I have is this. Is UL paying market price for a head coach or not? If the coaches salaries at UL are not at the top of the conference, can we really expect our teams to consistently compete at the top? And if our salaries ARE at, or near, the top in the conference, heads need to roll.

[CajunZ1]

Parrott,

Would you say it's accurate that within the next 5 years, it would be basically impossible to get our athletic budget to 20M+ without student fees for athletics?

I can't help but feel we're fighting a losing battle with this money thing... even within the SBC!

[Parrott]

_ Parrott,

Would you say it's accurate that within the next 5 years, it would be basically impossible to get our athletic budget to 20M+ without student fees for athletics?

I can't help but feel we're fighting a losing battle with this money thing... even within the SBC! _

Right now, UL and ULM are the only two Sun Belt schools that don't have student fees. Those schools are also in the bottom tier nationally from a financial standpoint. The two issues are tied together.

With continued budget cuts and no student fees, UL will struggle to survive in I-A until it gets the RCAF fully established. When that happens, it won't much matter what cuts are made by the state.

For long-term success, UL needs a strong RCAF and must find a way to get student fees. It's going to be a tough fight because of the current power structure, but it has to happen for the program's sake.

[zephyr]

_ Stockstill turned down better money at both Memphis and East Carolina. He took the team to a bowl in 2006 (Motor City) and 2009, winning the New Orleans Bowl. Defensive coordinator Manny Diaz left for Mississippi State, but most of the team returns in 2010. Plus he has restored the academic and APR issues. Bottom line is that MTSU is rewarding him for staying instead of jumping ship. If MTSU wins again in 2010, he will get more looks from other schools.

As for FIU, few teams in the country dealt with more injuries in 2009. I believe the Golden Panthers had at least eight season-ending injuries to starters or backups and ended up playing the nation's second-most true freshmen (17) behind only Tulane (18) and Texas A&M (18). In 2010, their projected starting QB is former Mississippi State All-SEC Freshman Wesley Carroll, plus WR TY Hilton is back. Their backs are young but talented. Once their line play improves, they will be a beast with all of the talent there and the league's largest budget. ($21 million of the school's $24 million budget is from just student fees.)

igeaux.mobi _

Understood. Younger and McCall were also highly thought of guys when they came in. While they weren't bad players, they didn't exactly light up the SBC. I understand the injury issue as well as we dealt with that in 2008. However, they have been bringing in talent on paper for several years now and have done nothing to even get into the top 3-4 teams in the SBC. I will believe it when I see them put one year together.

MTSU, as I mentioned, probably overpaid for Stockstill but he has been fairly consistent and did a great job restoring their scholarships. However, to just assume they will ascend to the top of the SBC is also premature. FAU did this a few years ago as well with back to back bowl wins but they are lagging behind right now in recruiting and they will likely not be a top 4 team next year. Troy is definitely the gold standard in this conference right now but i think there is a lot more parity in the SBC and it will be like this for a while.

[HoustonCajun]

_ Understood. Younger and McCall were also highly thought of guys when they came in. While they weren't bad players, they didn't exactly light up the SBC. I understand the injury issue as well as we dealt with that in 2008. However, they have been bringing in talent on paper for several years now and have done nothing to even get into the top 3-4 teams in the SBC. I will believe it when I see them put one year together.

MTSU, as I mentioned, probably overpaid for Stockstill but he has been fairly consistent and did a great job restoring their scholarships. However, to just assume they will ascend to the top of the SBC is also premature. FAU did this a few years ago as well with back to back bowl wins but they are lagging behind right now in recruiting and they will likely not be a top 4 team next year. Troy is definitely the gold standard in this conference right now but i think there is a lot more parity in the SBC and it will be like this for a while. _

I don't think I would look at it as his being overpaid, but rather that our coach is underpaid. It appears the minimum salary for a 1A coach is about $350K, the exceptions to that being UL, ULM and Ark State. Stockstill took them to a bowl, restored scholarshps, has their APR in line and is sought after by other programs. It is all about what happened last year and where the program is headed. They don't have to win the conference. Look at the SEC coaches. Only one can win the conference, but look at their salaries. Certainly, the SBC coaches won't make those kind of salaries but on a relative basis, an increase is warranted. I think Bustle should also be paid at least $300K as I posted already. UL should pay him the maximum a coach can be paid by a university in Louisiana, $225K, then supplement the $75K with RCAF with further incentives for a conference championship, bowl appearance and bowl victory. It is rediculous that UL is only paying Bustle $200K. That no one has sought to increase to the maximum of $225K in 8 years is pretty sad. Now that RCAF is a year old, it needs to do something.

[Oiler]

_ Right now, UL and ULM are the only two Sun Belt schools that don't have student fees. Those schools are also in the bottom tier nationally from a financial standpoint. The two issues are tied together.

With continued budget cuts and no student fees, UL will struggle to survive in I-A until it gets the RCAF fully established. When that happens, it won't much matter what cuts are made by the state.

For long-term success, UL needs a strong RCAF and must find a way to get student fees. It's going to be a tough fight because of the current power structure, but it has to happen for the program's sake. _

At what point will RCAF be considered "fully established"?

[zephyr]

_ I don't think I would look at it as his being overpaid, but rather that our coach is underpaid. It appears the minimum salary for a 1A coach is about $350K, the exceptions to that being UL, ULM and Ark State. Stockstill took them to a bowl, restored scholarshps, has their APR in line and is sought after by other programs. It is all about what happened last year and where the program is headed. They don't have to win the conference. Look at the SEC coaches. Only one can win the conference, but look at their salaries. Certainly, the SBC coaches won't make those kind of salaries but on a relative basis, an increase is warranted. I think Bustle should also be paid at least $300K as I posted already. UL should pay him the maximum a coach can be paid by a university in Louisiana, $225K, then supplement the $75K with RCAF with further incentives for a conference championship, bowl appearance and bowl victory. It is rediculous that UL is only paying Bustle $200K. That no one has sought to increase to the maximum of $225K in 8 years is pretty sad. Now that RCAF is a year old, it needs to do something. _

I could and certainly would agree.

[Boomer]

I've got a question---Can a company give say 100k to Bustle as part of his salary for doing a commercial---The company then writes this off as an advertising expense!!!!! Can a country club membership or spa treats for wives or free meals be worked into a salary schedule???? what about a free condo for vacations????

[Oiler]

_ I've got a question---Can a company give say 100k to Bustle as part of his salary for doing a commercial---The company then writes this off as an advertising expense!!!!! Can a country club membership or spa treats for wives or free meals be worked into a salary schedule???? what about a free condo for vacations???? _

Paying Bustle an extra $200K won't make him a better coach or recruiter. For whatever they are worth, both Rivals and Scout have the incoming UL class ranked near the bottom of the D-1 schools in the nation. ULM is even ranked ahead of UL and they just hired a proven loser as their NEW head coach. I know that teams ranked at the bottom regularly deny the validity of the rankings, but look at the teams ranked at the top. They are the teams that regularly WIN and compete for championships. Even if the rankings are far from perfect, consistently being at the bottom is not a good thing.