By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer | 0 comments
STILLWATER — In 1994, during Pat Jones’ final season as the Oklahoma State head football coach, the highest-paid Cowboys assistant made $58,300.
Adjusted for inflation, that salary today would be $93,877.
Mike Gundy’s assistant coaches — as well as most assistants working for Power 5 college programs — command a lot more than $93,877.
Combining Gundy’s overall compensation of $3.65 million with money paid to his assistants, Oklahoma State will spend $6.35 million on football staff salaries during 2015-16. That total exceeds OSU’s 2014-15 total by $8,975.
“At our level, (head coaches) making $4 million are not rare,” said Gundy, who, after the 2015 season, has four years remaining on the eight-year, $29.725 million contract he signed in 2012. “There are several guys making $4 million now, and not very long ago the standard was $2.5 million. And then you have a few assistants around the country who are making $1 million a year.
“That’s just the way it is now.”
Pay for the Cowboy coordinators remained the same as it was a year ago. Defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer will receive $550,000, and offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich will collect $400,000.
Cornerbacks coach Tim Duffie secured the most significant raise among Gundy’s assistants. Duffie will make $323,187 — an increase of $34,437 over last year. Receivers coach Kasey Dunn got a raise of $20,000 (to $300,000), and defensive line coach Joe Bob Clements got a raise of $16,538 (to $347,288).
“College football is very competitive,” OSU athletic director Mike Holder said. “If your university wants to be competitive on the playing field, you have to be competitive in all areas. There are a lot of people out there mining the same talent base for players, for assistant coaches and for support personnel.”
There are four new coaches on the Cowboy staff. Running backs coach Marcus Arroyo will be paid $300,000, safeties coach Dan Hammerschmidt will get $200,000, and tight ends coach Jason McEndoo will get $175,000.
OSU was able to hire new offensive line coach Greg Adkins at a salary of $100,000. It is believed Gundy was able to hire him at such a relatively light dollar figure because Adkins continues to also be paid by the NFL Buffalo Bills.
At the end of the 2014 season, Buffalo head coach Doug Marrone opted out of his contract. Adkins still had a year on his contract, but he and other Bills assistants no longer were employed. In February, Adkins accepted Gundy’s offer to join the Cowboy staff.
“He’s terrific. He’s as good as I’ve been around to this point,” Gundy said of Adkins last month. “Obviously, I haven’t been with him on a game day. But up to this point, he’s really good.”
Next year — when Buffalo’s money no longer is a factor — Adkins’ OSU compensation is scheduled to exceed $300,000.
“I just like the way I see (Adkins) coaching and what he has brought to the table,” Holder said. “I think there’s going to be improvement on our offensive line. From what I’ve seen and heard, I think he’s a difference-maker.
“You don’t like to have (to search for and hire) new coaches, because turnover (is difficult). But to Mike Gundy’s credit, he brought in some quality coaches.”
STILLWATER — In 1994, during Pat Jones’ final season as the Oklahoma State head football coach, the highest-paid Cowboys assistant made $58,300.
Adjusted for inflation, that salary today would be $93,877.
Mike Gundy’s assistant coaches — as well as most assistants working for Power 5 college programs — command a lot more than $93,877.
Combining Gundy’s overall compensation of $3.65 million with money paid to his assistants, Oklahoma State will spend $6.35 million on football staff salaries during 2015-16. That total exceeds OSU’s 2014-15 total by $8,975.
“At our level, (head coaches) making $4 million are not rare,” said Gundy, who, after the 2015 season, has four years remaining on the eight-year, $29.725 million contract he signed in 2012. “There are several guys making $4 million now, and not very long ago the standard was $2.5 million. And then you have a few assistants around the country who are making $1 million a year.
“That’s just the way it is now.”
Pay for the Cowboy coordinators remained the same as it was a year ago. Defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer will receive $550,000, and offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich will collect $400,000.
Cornerbacks coach Tim Duffie secured the most significant raise among Gundy’s assistants. Duffie will make $323,187 — an increase of $34,437 over last year. Receivers coach Kasey Dunn got a raise of $20,000 (to $300,000), and defensive line coach Joe Bob Clements got a raise of $16,538 (to $347,288).
“College football is very competitive,” OSU athletic director Mike Holder said. “If your university wants to be competitive on the playing field, you have to be competitive in all areas. There are a lot of people out there mining the same talent base for players, for assistant coaches and for support personnel.”
There are four new coaches on the Cowboy staff. Running backs coach Marcus Arroyo will be paid $300,000, safeties coach Dan Hammerschmidt will get $200,000, and tight ends coach Jason McEndoo will get $175,000.
OSU was able to hire new offensive line coach Greg Adkins at a salary of $100,000. It is believed Gundy was able to hire him at such a relatively light dollar figure because Adkins continues to also be paid by the NFL Buffalo Bills.
At the end of the 2014 season, Buffalo head coach Doug Marrone opted out of his contract. Adkins still had a year on his contract, but he and other Bills assistants no longer were employed. In February, Adkins accepted Gundy’s offer to join the Cowboy staff.
“He’s terrific. He’s as good as I’ve been around to this point,” Gundy said of Adkins last month. “Obviously, I haven’t been with him on a game day. But up to this point, he’s really good.”
Next year — when Buffalo’s money no longer is a factor — Adkins’ OSU compensation is scheduled to exceed $300,000.
“I just like the way I see (Adkins) coaching and what he has brought to the table,” Holder said. “I think there’s going to be improvement on our offensive line. From what I’ve seen and heard, I think he’s a difference-maker.
“You don’t like to have (to search for and hire) new coaches, because turnover (is difficult). But to Mike Gundy’s credit, he brought in some quality coaches.”
