Tennessee didn't need any help in starting a conversation about Pat Summitt's contract.
Lady Vols athletic director Joan Cronan said Thursday that talks ensued in the wake of UT's second consecutive women's basketball national championship.
But the ripple effect from Geno Auriemma's new five-year pact at Connecticut will liven UT's discussions. Auriemma's deal starts at $1.4 million and increases by $100,000 per year for the contract's duration.
"We've already been discussing things,'' Cronan said. "We're certainly not going to respond every time Geno does something but that is a factor."
Cronan would not divulge any specifics, nor would she offer a timetable for a final determination.
Summitt's schedule has been hectic lately with summer camps concluding this week and the Lady Vols visiting the White House on Tuesday. She's still reorganizing her staff, which includes a new assistant coach (Daedra Charles-Furlow) and a new operations director (Kathy Harston), and finishing some local speaking engagements.
Auriemma's contract makes him the highest paid coach in the women's game. Summitt had that distinction when she and the University came to terms on a six-year extension two years ago. The deal enabled her to be the first women's coach to break the $1 million barrier.
With bonuses, Summitt's will receive at least $1.65 million for 2008-09. Based on her present deal, Summitt's base package of salary, TV/radio, endorsements and public relations increases by $50,000 to $1.275 million in 2008-09.
Along with raising the program's national championships total to eight, Summitt has closed to within 17 coaching victories of 1,000.
"I think the University has and will continue to treat Pat in a manner that is equitable,'' Cronan said.
Dan Fleser may be reached at 865-342-6288.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Memorable moments in Pat Summitt's…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 92
bugman (Inactive) writes:
yes she has won NC's, yes shes the best CBB coach ever but her program doesnt generate enough money to constitute another raise. She makes enough money already and if she has any respect for the kids having to pay a tuition increase she'll take the money and give it right back as a donation. Other then that shes a pretty cool person.
ladivolfan writes:
Pat is the very best and deserves the very best. And she will be able to put back more since so much of it will not be spent on hair gel.
ncvol writes:
As far as I'm concerned, Pat Summitt deserves any amount they can pay her. She is worth her weigh in gold. Go Vols !
ncvol writes:
I meant she was worth her weight in gold...
Go Vols !
burntorangeVOLffle writes:
Correct me if I'm wrong but the athletic dept does not rely on student tutions for funding. Pat should get a life time contract that ensures she is the highest paid coach in women's bball.
Smallmike4pres writes:
Who cares. Make sure you pay Pearl whatever it takes to keep him, even if it comes out of the women's budget.
JoJoSchmo writes:
Amen, burntorangeVOLffle . . .
her salary DOES NOT come from the same source of funding as the academic side of UT.
Smallmike4pres writes:
Her salary is funded by football, just like 75% of the sports are. Just an idea here, but wouldn't it be nice if Bruce, Pat, & Phil donated $100,000 of their fat raises to Knox county schools for teacher raises? Just a thought.
Titan writes:
To slightly paraphrase the great philosopher Andy Griffith "Pay the woman, Aunt Joan!!!!!!"
bobbarbilly writes:
I agree that Andy was an ol'philosopher... but who was Aunt Joan?
tigervol9802 writes:
I think it was a reference to Cronan....
How about we pay her what she probably should be making based on sheer economics and instead of giving her a raise cutting her pay to about $300K or so a year so the women's athletic department doesn't continually run in the red?
Or, in the essense of fairness, demand higher donations and ticket prices for women's bball games in order to cover the difference. If she's worth that much, let the die-hards pay for it.
pmidude56#259103 writes:
"Aunt Joan" is Joan Cronan (women's AD) with a reference to Andy's Aunt Bee.
bobbarbilly writes:
Now I get it.
ZR writes:
What if Geno has a clause to make him the highest paid women's coach?????
dum-dum=
And why does Joan Cronan have a job? Why can Tennessee not just have 1 athletic department like 96% of all colleges and universities out there?
http://title-ix.blogspot.com/2008/03/...
max357_2000 writes:
pay her 1,000,000 for each NC! PAY THE WOMAN.
andefromtn#212139 writes:
We have Joan Cronan and we should be glad we do. UT did the right thing from the start by separating the women's and men's departments. I would compare UT women's department with any in the nation and UT would be on top 98 percent of the time. They have the best and this is what has allowed UT to build top flight programs in every sport.
ncvol writes:
You know it's a shame that a women can coach a team for her whole career, win SEC championships,go to final sixteens,final eights,final fours,win 8 National Championships for the University of Tennessee and not get the respect she is due. The Lady Vols basketball team plays to a packed arena everywhere they play. I really think the negative posts are not those of UT fans. They couldn't be if they know anything about our ladies basketball program. Pat is worth what they will pay her and I am sure most would agree.
Go Vols!
BillVol writes:
Thank you, ZR. This is insanity. If we had any guts, we'd pay Pat LESS than Geno to make a point.
tenn32rebel writes:
BillVol, what point would we be making? That we don't appreciate everything that Pat does for UT, not just the women's programs??? We have the #1 program because we have the #1 coach so her salary should reflect that #1 status!!!
ZR, you really should understand the Lady Vols program before you start suggesting changes that only represent your low IQ and lack of respect for the Lady Vols.
98reax writes:
Unbelievable. What a bunch of idiots. Smalltike, ZR, Billvol, why do you even pretend to have a clue? Every time you post you sound more like a bozo.
DA4BigOrange writes:
This has reached the point of absolute insanity.
You all speak of Pat Summitt as if she should write her own check. It's WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PEOPLE. NO ONE GIVES A DAMN ABOUT IT outside of Storrs and Knoxville!
I read garbage on forums and hear on the radio about all of the "publicity" Pat Summitt brings to Tennessee. Bruce Pearl has done more for basketball in the state of Tennessee in THREE YEARS than Pat Summitt has in THIRTY:
Who do you think got donors to pony up for Pratt? Bruce Pearl.
Who do you think pre-sold the luxury boxes in the Tommy Bowl, allowing for the renovation? Bruce Pearl.
If Pat Summitt and the lady vols are so important, so high and mighty, such and elitist force as their minions of followers claim they are, then why, after all those "Final Fours" and "National Titles" could Pat and her followers not do a THING to raise money for a practice facility? Why could they do NOTHING to even BEGIN raising money towards renovations? All of this talk of the importance of women's basketball and Pat Summitt is BULL, plain and simple. The proof is in the pudding, folks.
Let's use some sanity for once. If you were to equate Pat Summitt's pay and it's percentage of the gross revenue garnered by the women vols program it would be equivalent to Phil Fulmer being paid 28 MILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR! She's paid almost 70% of the GROSS (not NET, GROSS) income the women vols bring in...JUST HER! She's milking you morons for all it's worth....and it IS about the money to her. She's got the "fame" and is a supposed "living legend" now. When she says she has "feelings" about Bruce Pearl making more money than her, trust me: it's ALL about the money.
Only at Tennessee do we have a fan base stupid enough to pay Phil Fulmer over $2.5 MILLION per year to go 8-4 every year while getting embarassed semi-annually on national TV and winning NO TITLE OF ANY KIND in 10 years ALONG with a WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH making $1.65 MILLION when her program only grosses just over $2 million. It's unreal to me how out of touch with reality some of the people in this town are. It's comical, actually.
MidTennVol writes:
DA4BIG -- you obviously don't get college sports, the underlying pride of a major sports program, or the impact an icon like Pat Summit has on a program.
If you were an AD with your stated philosophy, your programs would quickly go into the tank, no question about it. They would lose money for one simple reason: they would lose games because you would (quickly) lose the coaches who win.
I also challenge your claims about Pat's compensation. She makes 70 percent of the gross revenue women's basketball brings into the university?
The article states: "With bonuses, Summitt will receive at least $1.65 million for 2008-09." And you are claiming that that $1.65M is 70 percent of the entire gross revenue of the University of Tennessee's women's basketball program?
Where did you get your business degree? Florida or Alabama?
richvol writes:
It's hard to put a value on what Pat Summit has done for the University. The national exposure that Tennessee has received through the years is priceless. You could not pay for the publicity it has generated. Even nonfans of women's sports have heard of and respect Tennessee because of what she has accomplished.
I would suggest that anyone who has reached the pinnacle of their profession would want to be compensated in a like manner. Pat has done this more than any other person in sports except Coach Wooden. Even you gentlemen who take issue with her pay would want to be paid if you reached the top in your job.
People should be glad to see someone else paid well for their excellence. If not then what you display probably has to do with envy. The way I have seen the world work has you and others profiting when people are rewarded for their efforts. If high achievement is not recognized with commensurate compensation we all suffer... be happy for her.
ZR writes:
Why don't we pay her in cans of Bush Beans and Starkist Tuna? All it takes is one can to go see a Lady Vol game. If you have a case, you get a season ticket.
So lets give her about 800,000 cans of beans, tuna and chili and be done with it.
And fire Joan Cronan, too. If the Sentinel had any public interest in mind they would print how many millions are wasted on nothing over there by having 2 athletic departments.
Mr_Bandman writes:
Pat should be the highest paid in her field because she is the best----the record is clear on that, no matter which way you look at it---numbers don't lie, and reputations rarely do. The thing that strikes me, though, is that the job market for men's basketball coaches, from junior high school through the NBA and all points in between, is 100% gender exclusive---men only need apply. On the women's side, not so. In our über enlightened, post-modern society, we still have our "no girls allowed" sign at the treehouse while insisting that the sandbox is for everyone. In that light, making a man the highest paid in the women's game seems a little 1950s. "Lucy---I'm home!" "Oh, Ricky---why can't I have a little more money to by a new hat?" It's a little disgusting. She needs to be the highest paid, and it is to make a point, and it is a point worth making because it absolutely transcends basketball. She's way bigger than the game she rules.
rocky_topper writes:
Pat should be the HIGHEST paid coach over there IMO.
I do wish they would combine the athletic departments however. It would be cheaper on the donors who are having to donate to BOTH athletic programs!
At least you don't have to settle for mediocrity watching Lady Vols basketball!
eduardo writes:
She deserves a raise and an ext. more than F$$$lmer! But still women's basketball is irrelevant except in Knoxville and Storrs!
stevefrommemphis writes:
DA4BigOrange - AMEN! ZR and BillVol, you are correct. This is insanity. I wonder what General Neyland would think of all this nonsense. Plus, if we are going to get into a pay war with Connecticut, somebody please remember that the cost of living in Connecticut is much greater than the cost of living in Knoxville.
mtnsvol44 writes:
Geno-the-jerks head will be bigger than
ever now.
txsvol#372416 writes:
Nobody has pointed out Title IX in this discussion yet, so, that law requires parity in spending on both men's and women's athletics, even though men' football and basketball brings in the revenue to fund the rest of the programs. Joan Cronan enlightened me on that subject over dinner at the New Orleans Women's Final Four in 1991. I think that Pat Summitt should have a contract paying her $1 more than Geno--like the time that Red Auerbach, reacting to a contract for Wilt Chamberlain for $100,000, tore up Bill Russell's contract, and wrote him another one for $100,001.00. (Hey, that was a long time ago!) Go Vols! SAVol
ZR writes:
I brought up Title IX.
Does everybody remember when Pat Summit threatened to not play Duke anymore if Duke students did not behave the way she wanted them to?
Why won't she play UConn. She is a real class act, alright. Real honest about that.
tigervol9802 writes:
Title IX is also a joke.
DA4BigOrange - you have earned a nomination for post of the year. Bravo, bravo. Too bad facts and common sense will be lost amongst 95% of the posters.
ladivolfan writes:
ZR - it wasn't misbehavior of the duke students; it was the Duke student band section was so loud behind the visiting team's bench that her players couldn't hear her coaching them during time outs. Every team has the right to be able to hear their coach.
Since you asked, she won't play UConn because of illegal recruiting practices. But that's not the classy part about Pat. What gives Pat class is that she won't talk about it. What lowers Geno's class is his big mouth.
volhoopsfan001 writes:
Why do so many people on here equate money with respect? If Pat Head isn't the highest paid coach does that really mean that she isn't being respected? U-Conn's women's team generates more revenue. I hope that everyone that is saying that Pat should get a raise would also be o.k. with an increase in ticket prices to help pay for that raise.
knoxtenor writes:
The biggest difference between Geno's deal and whatever deal Pat makes is that Geno's deal is based on a "per word" basis.
Go4Two writes:
Pat should be paid but remember the funds come from the football program. Please don't complain when ticket prices are increased. That's just the price of doing business.
txsvol#372416 writes:
ZR, I learned from LVX8 not to express honest opinions on anything involving women's sports on this site back when the Lady Vols were in the Final Four, but I do agree with her post yesterday at 11:12 am (maybe this article, or the 'sister article', I don't care enough to re-research to insure accuracy--I'm working). Hey, we can't drill for oil because of the endangered species acts, and other looney ideas. Why should collegiate sports be any different? Go Vols! SAVol
rocky_topper writes:
ZR, Why won't she play UCONN? Maybe you should actually keep up with the Lady Vols Basketball program before posting. It is obvious that you really don't follow the sport very closely at all.
TommyJack writes:
Geno is greasy.
Drill here, drill now, pay less.
TommyJack writes:
givim6: Agree with you brother. But what is a maroon?
DA4BigOrange writes:
This just chaps my rear. We need to make a stand for sanity, people. This has gone too far. Summitt making that much money is dipping into the pocket of sports that REALLY MATTER ALONG with putting the bill back on students. You don't REALLY THINK ALL of those new "fees" that students pay for football tickets are providing money that ONLY goes towards the footall program, do you? Some of that money is going towardsr PAT FREAKING SUMMITT making at LEAST 3 times what she should be making.
In all seriousness, this has to be bordering on illegal. Someone needs to look into the law regarding public universitites and where funds are allocated and see if this violates GROSS NEGLIGENCE on the part of the University of Tennesseee, Joan Cronin and the women's athletic department. This has to stop.
LadyVolFanForever writes:
Thank goodness for Title 9. If people out there like ZR, smallmike4pres, da4bigorange and a few others were in charge, all us women would still have to be either secretaries or homemakers. I just hope none of them have daughters or granddaughters.
If you have no respect for women's sports, you have no respect for women ! If you think Coach Summitt doesn't deserve respect for what she has brought to women's basketball, can't you at least respect her for having a great graduation rate or do you think us girls shouldn't attend college ???
GoVol writes:
Pat's not in it for the ego of being the top paid HC. She simply wishes to be treated fairly and with the respect she deserves. Pat will never coach anywhere other than UT and it's not the money that has kept her at UT all of these years...this won't change. She loves what she does!!
DA4BigOrange writes:
UConn has their OWN TV DEAL TO PAY THAT JERK, people. Tennessee has no such arrangement and makes no more money now than they did YEARS AGO.
This is insane, people. Period. Anyone who actually thinks $1.65 mil per year for Pat Summitt is logical in any way is a complete, head buried in the sand, orange goggle wearing, elitist moron.
TommyJack writes:
6: Got it. thanks
Chartervol writes:
Just sunset Joan Cronan and her redundant tribe of bureaucrats, then pay Pat the money we'll save.
And let's 86 that Carolina blue business while we're at it.
One school. One name. One color scheme. One logo. One department. It is so simple.
Sheepscape writes:
I am torn here. PHS deserves to be the highest paid women's coach. A case can be made that she, right off her two consectutive titles, is more deserving of a raise than Phillip Fulmer, who hasn't had a top ten finish since the 01 season.
Then again, the economy is rough...and these increases will be borne by fans who are already stretched to the limit. I reiterate, the fans...some of whom aren't fanatic Lady Vols supporters.
Also seems bizarre Joan Cronan is acting more like Coach Summitt's agent than the University's representative.
UT_LAW_2011 writes:
If you can't get a raise after winning back to back national championships, when can you get one?
TropicalFish writes:
>>Just an idea here, but wouldn't it be nice if Bruce, Pat, & Phil donated $100,000 of their fat raises to Knox county schools for teacher raises? Just a thought.
Sounds like communism to me.
What would be a better idea would be if the Teacher's Union would stop stealing money from their teachers with their so-called "dues." And if teachers would do their jobs and actually teach students what they need to know to get on in life.
TropicalFish writes:
>>Since you asked, she won't play UConn because of illegal recruiting practices. But that's not the classy part about Pat. What gives Pat class is that she won't talk about it.
That whole thing was a debacle... on Pat's part. She "wont' talk about it," and so all the gossip mongers come out and say Geno must have done something really horrible...and what did it turn out to be? A trip to ESPN. For which UConn received a minor violation.
Having said that...Pat Summitt means a great deal to Tennessee, and after 2 back to back championships, she deserves a raise.
As more and more women get involved in sports, as the WNBA with the assistance of Candace Parker becomes more popular... all assuming the WNBA markets things properly, this could be a win-win situation for all women's basketball programs.
Just as professional basketball was not very popular until Larry Bird and Magic Johnson arrived, so the WNBA has to build itself around personalities and rivalries.... (which is of course why Pat never should have cancelled the UConn game. You don't like what he did? Beat him on the court and make him have to shake your hand and like it.)
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.