D1 College Coaching Merry-Go-Round
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Every contract is different, but a lot of them guarantee to pay the coach for the remainder of the contract, so the AD would essentially be paying for two coaches at once if they fire one and hire a new one. But as you mentioned, most softball coaches do not make much money, so it is a mute point for most schools with big football budgets.
I know your $18 comment is an exaggeration, but sorry that is not correct.
D1 softball coaches salaries are often public and there is some money involved. Most buyouts are in the 50-60% of remaining contract or 1 year of pay, so the buyout for what is a 'non-revenue' sport is significant since you need to pay the next coach about the same. Sure it isn't the $X million you have to pay to buyout the football coach, but in terms of what you are spending on a program it is a significant cost and hit to a budget. It is not a decision they make lightly - especially in the non-power conferences where the school is likely not making money from football or basketball.
From an article on PAC-12 Softball Coaches Salaries:
- Overall, the PAC 12 ranks second behind the SEC in coaches salaries.
-The majority of the coaches in the PAC 12 would owe their school around $50,000 if they terminate their contract to leave.
- On the other hand, schools typically pay a percentage of the amount remaining. For example, Arizona and Arizona State would pay 60% and 50% of the remaining contract to their coaches.
As many of the colleges are public, salary information is readily available. Here are some samples of some coaches salaries for some reference - some are not from power programs:
Indiana U: $130,000 https://www.hoosiersportsreport.com...rsity-coaching-salaries-for-2018-fiscal-year/
Purdue: $127,600 - https://www.purdueexponent.org/sports/article_31e24a4d-82d4-5cae-9d18-2274afeec0c7.html
University West Florida (D2) - $60,000 https://www.pnj.com/story/sports/20...es-within-division-ii-ncaa-context/552539002/
Utah Valley State College: $48,000 https://www.deseretnews.com/article/695240735/Coaches-put-salaries-in-perspective.html
Barry U (D2): $52,000
LSU Softball $330,000
UL LAFAYETTE $125,195
NORTHWESTERN $61,000
LA TECH $60,000
SOUTHEASTERN $55,000
ULM $50,000
MCNEESE $46,013
GRAMBLING $45,000
NICHOLLS $44,892
LSUA Softball $36,400
(https://www.theadvertiser.com/story...8HH7H586P2905U5QA19U75OGK92NMTU5DS4ZXPCN5OO16)
You didn't have to copy and paste a full story to prove your point. Yes my $18 was an exaggeration, and I thought it was blatant enough for everybody to fully understand.
There are a few programs that pay big money for softball coaches. I am stressing a few. The majority make less than you would at a car dealership or managing a grocery store. I love fastpitch it's really grown on me, but there's no way in the world I would ever coach a program $50k. At a bare minimum you would have to break the six-figure mark to even make sense.
At universities football, basketball, and at a few baseball mean everything. Everything else is a headache and it's an insignificant headache. I can assure you that and athletic director doesn't stay up late wringing their hands wondering who will take over the helm in their softball program.
Budgets are definitely part of the game. Schools are businesses. That's the way they are run. The biggest majority of assistant coaches and trainers work for $0. All they're doing is building their resume in hopes of getting the phone call one day. Coaches can also make money off of Camp which usually goes straight into their pocket after they pay help.
There are a few programs that pay big money for softball coaches. I am stressing a few. The majority make less than you would at a car dealership or managing a grocery store. I love fastpitch it's really grown on me, but there's no way in the world I would ever coach a program $50k. At a bare minimum you would have to break the six-figure mark to even make sense.
At universities football, basketball, and at a few baseball mean everything. Everything else is a headache and it's an insignificant headache. I can assure you that and athletic director doesn't stay up late wringing their hands wondering who will take over the helm in their softball program.
Budgets are definitely part of the game. Schools are businesses. That's the way they are run. The biggest majority of assistant coaches and trainers work for $0. All they're doing is building their resume in hopes of getting the phone call one day. Coaches can also make money off of Camp which usually goes straight into their pocket after they pay help.
- Feb 15, 2016
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Is softball a revenue sport anywhere? I can't imagine that it is. It costs a lot to equip, feed, and pay for travel of a team not to mention coaches, tutors, trainers, grounds crew, etc...
So basically football and basketball (some other specific sports at specific schools) pay for everything else right?
I wonder the same thing. DD and DW visited the University of Florida during a pre-season tournament they hosted. Work commitments prevented me from going. But they said they were able to get awesome seats for every game because there just were not many people in the stands. I'm sure that changes during regionals and super-regionals. But what is the attendance for a regular season softball game? If Florida doesn't pull in fans, I doubt many programs do.
UF pulls in the fans pretty well. They are currently going though a major renovation which is meant to be ready for next season. Part of that is better shade & more seating to compete with the other larger SEC school stadiums though I am not sure what their paid-seating capacity is going to be. Last year UF's stadium I think seated 1200 plus student and hill seating (which is $1 for adults and free for kids and are not counted as part of the official attendence). I believe the max capacity was 2400 people in total. During the regular season they get roughly 1000 paid attendees for a non-conference mid-week blow out to sell outs for most conference games. It is packed to capacity for SEC games.
Alabama gets close to 3,000 per game and their stadium capacity is about 4,000 which they regularly get when other SEC teams roll into town. I am not sure that is the biggest capacity but it is probably close.
Most new facilities being built in power conferences seems to looking to seat 1500-2000 with grass seating in the outfield to allow more people to attend for 'big' games.
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DD and DW were there for the Aquafina Invitational from Feb. 23 to Feb. 25. They attended 5 of the 6 games that Florida played that weekend. According to them, they seriously doubt more than 500 people were in the stands for any of those games. They sat very close to the home dugout for each of the games because there were so many seats open. DD was surprised how empty the place was. But she did get to witness 2 no-hitters by Kelly Barnhill that weekend. NOTE: I'm sure a home game against Alabama or Auburn will pull in more fans than a game against Georgia Southern.
Yeah the early season tournaments draw less for each game because they are spread out over a few days and some of the opponents are not going to draw people in and of course are non-conference as well. Also you have games at weird times - not many people are going to 9am game no matter who is it in. Over the entire tournament though you are still getting a decent showing. If you are going, you are probably going to go for a game or two - not for all the games in the schedule. It isn't a scrimmage environment, but it is somewhat similar and somewhat like a pre-season games. The opponents crowd is normally friends and family.
Actually if you can get to this sort of event it is great. I live further south than UF, so I am closer to the tournaments at FAU or FIU where I will try to get to for at least one or two days each year. Great cheap entertainment.
DD and DW had a great time. I really wish I could have gone. I know I would have enjoyed it as well. DD applied to and was accepted to UF. That was the reason for the visit. But ultimately she decided to go another way.
