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When Lane Kiffin was named Tennessee's football coach last fall, he pledged to take the Vols to the top of the college football world.
In at least one area, he's succeeded.
An examination of college football coaches' compensation by USA Today reveals that the nine assistant coaches on UT's staff average a little more than $369,400 per year, making it the highest paid coaching staff in college football. Texas' staff ranks second at more than $327,000.
The USA Today study, part of a three-installment series that begins in today's editions, also lists Tennessee defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, Lane Kiffin's father, as the highest-paid assistant coach with his $1.2 million salary. The senior Kiffin will also receive a $300,000 retention bonus on Dec. 31.
Continue reading at The Tennessean.
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Comments » 119
TnWalker writes:
Worth every penny!
Ringside writes:
worth every pennny.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
I would imagine we also lead in another category.
$$$ paid so another coach would go away.
99VOLinSC writes:
This is such a "non-story," so what? The head coach took less and the complete staff is only the 4th highest in the conference. Besides, if they doubled their pay it would be worth it. If you want the best staff (which we have) you have to pay for it.
hillsborovol writes:
Totally agree. Why would anyone bother to report on coaches' salaries without including the head coach in the mix?
Southland writes:
yes it is a story-coaches-all coaches make far to much money compared to people that work at universities. We made fun of Bama when they paid Saban the big money, now it is okay when we do it. I think the coaches are doing a good job and since we know what they make we know they should be. As far as paying Fulmer to go away, lets not forget at one time LSU was paying three coaches at the same time. Bama has two and three on the payroll in the past few years and Vandy at one time had three on the payroll and had to sue Dinardo to get some money back so we should feel fortunate to be paying just one. One that did a good job for us for the first 15 years.
CrankE writes:
WE'RE #1!
jmr68ut writes:
With the largest stadium in the SEC we should be able to afford it - no prob!!
tyler1 writes:
take out Montes salary and the average is a lot less ,so it is a non story.
we3vols#281863 writes:
Well, that just leaves me one response to this loper...Kiss My Foolish Azz. Go Vols!
GreerVol22 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
xvolx writes:
they will play in the (lead nation in pay bowl).
FatherVol writes:
I notice that the article says nothing about the Athletic Department being separate from the University and that the department also contribute millions to the general scholarship fund not to mention the dollars generated through the sales of memorabilia in university owned stores. The article leaves the impression that athletics is taking money away from the university when the truth of the matter is just the opposite. How many students, past and present, enrolled at UT because they developed a loyalty to the school based n enthusiasm generated in following its sporting programs or because their parents' allegience to the university that was displayed by following their alma mater's athletic success on televison, radio and in local sports pages? C'mon. Get real.
CapnJohn writes:
If you are incinuating that the UT spends too much on athletics, and not enough on academics, that is an old argument that has no basis.
The athletic department works on it's own and funds itself. Technically, it is a completely different beast. It's it's own company, much like TVA and KUB are separate...
If the athletic dept. makes the money, as in any other business, they should be able to spend it as they see fit, to further the success of their business.
The athletic department is in now way NO WAY taking money from ANY academic program, so get off your high horse. Not only does the athletic program donate money to the academic side, they also are great ambassadors for the University.
CapnJohn writes:
You must not have any brains at all. If you want a good coach, as in any sport, you have to pay for him. You can't expect to spend $50,000.00 and get a coach that will win you national championships. Not when other Universities are offering those same coaches millions. You get what you pay for.
Next, "this guy" that is selling us a bill of goods, is delivering on that bill of goods, and some. He has more than exceeded expectaions in his first year, as he has gotten loads more productivity out of a team that went 5-7 last year. Furthermore, if you need more proof, just look at the recent play of QB J. Crompton, who is on pace to break Peyton Manning's record for the most TD passes in a season. Not only that but he is doing it in less time, as the first few games of this season were a disaster for him. That is the kind of turn around that Lane has been able to head up.
What has Lane accomplished? Well, he helped USC win a National Title, he has been able to recruit some of the best players in the country, garnering Tennessee a top 10 class in his first year as head coach, and he has (with basically the same team as last year) Tennessee on the brink of an 8-4 season and a possible bid to the Cotton Bowl or Outback Bowl.
You must be wearing blinders if you don't see what he has accomplished here so far...
CRFVols writes:
Isn't this old news? Did they not say this once everyone was hired?
Let's talk about Ole Miss.....who cares about this phooey. Obviously they are showing they are worth it so far.
cloudodust writes:
Tennessee was ridiculed in February of this year for the hiring of a Head Coach whose resume boasted of more overall losses than wins. CLK was toasted and roasted as a brat and a losser pick for Tennessee around the SEC blogs. Although the number of people bashing on CLK has dimimished, there are still a few hanger-ons that refuse to accept the positive steps the Vols have made with this coaching staff. The majority of us Tennessee fans are happy to date. The Team is happy. Layla is happy. Shoot, it's only money...and one of the Sullins' boys got it right with his prediction. The payoff is coming.
FranklinCo_VOL writes:
Maybe South Carolina will learn from this approach and hire a complete STAFF with a young fiesty coach at the helm instead of hiring retreds. Or not. GO BIG ORANGE!!!
CapnJohn writes:
Best Reply I've seen all day.
ctownvol writes:
"As the saying goes, a fool and his money are soon parted." That begs the question, and I've never heard a sufficient answer...How did the fool and his money get together in the first place? It's this simple...If you don't like what is going on at UT under Kiffin's leadership, and I don't see how you possibly couldn't, then turn the tv off and/or sell your seats brother. The "side show" is getting it done! GBO!
Laydbakvol writes:
I'm pretty sure this was pointed out from day one. So does this mean KNS will break the story next year too?
3volfan writes:
yea, ctown, if you don't see what this coaching staff has accomplished i.e: quarterback play, then get outta here. no offense but you go, with your binders, and don't jump back on when we're winning 10-12 games a year in the next year or two. GO VOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!
lail#204076 (staff) writes:
It's actually a story that is in today's USA Today and we're linking to a Tennessean version. Also, Kiffin's contract were only recently released by the university.
http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2009/o...
The contracts of the assistants still haven't been released.
tennezz writes:
This is really none of your business, so take your opinion somewhere else, We are not interested it it!
SIMSVOL writes:
in a nutshell, SC don't know #$%t.
Just look at your own team before you spout off about the VOLS.
The1 writes:
It does not matter if Kiffin is a great coach or not. He is smart enough to take less for himself in order to pay his assistants more. This sets him apart from the more greedy head coach UT just got rid of.
I believe coaches are paid too much in general, but Kiffin is not the poster child for greed. He only makes about half what the top-paid SEC head coaches make.
How about floating the idea of a 50% pay cut to Miles, Saban, and Myer for the good of their teams - bet you want get invited to submit any more questions.
SIMSVOL writes:
MVUniv - you're still out there!
UT and Notre Dame don't have much in common at all, dude. Tennessee is winning and has one of the best coaches in college football. Meanwhile, ND is on a downward spiral and about to fire Weis.
shopsports#273141 writes:
UrbanCrier and Satan make $5mil ea and don't pay their assistants, but whose counting. Here's hoping it gets them nothing but losing......
hemoz writes:
I hope my investment in the stock market has such a return as the football program seems to be getting!
DC_Vol writes:
Top to bottom the best coaching staff in the country!!! Almost every position we have seen the coaches develop players and improve their play. Kiffin should win SEC Coach of the year for the dramatic improvement of our team (i.e.Jonathon Crompton, Sullin Brothers and all the freshmen who have started and played well this year)!!! Kiffin thanks for bringing back discipline, work ethic (daily) and most of all hope of a bright future for our UT program!!! GBO!!! Fear the Kiffin!!!!
Kasey writes:
When is he going to start earning the $$$$?
TommyJack writes:
will have more in common next year with Urbee at ND.
OrangeMagic writes:
What a stupid article. As others have said, this is old news and is actually innovative because it changes the model and shares the wealth with the staff. This in turn will enhance cohesiveness of the staff as they won't be attempted to make lateral moves for money. I believe we still come in under 3 or 4 other SEC teams in terms of total staff salary.
ctownvol writes:
Timmy Teabag graduates and Urbie goes after his "dream job" next year. Charlie Strong goes to Virginia, and FU goes back to their proper place in the annals of college football....also-rans.
jack_2222#231746 writes:
We're Number 1. We're Number 1.
RockyTopVolFan writes:
The Vols future and interest in them is promising and very much on the uptick!
USA Today subscriber base and revenues are declining and they are on the downtick.
This absurd story shows one example of the reasons for the above facts.
shopsports#273141 writes:
Getting and paying great assistant coaches was Lane's FIRST, BEST, management decision. He deserves a ton of credit for putting logic above EGO (testosterone). His model is one of the things that pisses off opposing coaches most. IT'S WORKING. He is NOT expecting to DO THE SAME THINGS (or like Republicans, do NOTING)AND EXPECT A DIFFERENT RESULT.
notoriousBIGorange writes:
Everyone can see the development of these players this season even beyond Crompton.
It will be interesting to see if any changes are made to this coaching staff after the season and if a true special teams coach is brought in.
If little or no changes are made then that will tell us that these coaches like working for CLK.
Vol86 writes:
Was proud to be a vol fan. Idiots making these comments just make it hard.
Realist writes:
TROLL ALERT
This poster has never posted anything positive. Just ignore him. He isn't a TN fan and only wants to stir the pot. The NS needs to get rid of posters like this!
Realist writes:
My troll alert is for scknowsit!
Vol86 writes:
The ut coaching staff is top notch. I think the only people negitive about it should be from the opposing teams that have to compete against them.
crimsonviper writes:
Vol program is on the rise.
It dosen't take an internet football genius to see that.
Some may question the cost.
The question is,Are you happier now than you were last year at this time??
I thought so.
TennesseeJed writes:
Completely worth every penny. The SEC hires the best coaches in the country - you gotta pay if you wanna play. If football didn't make money for UT, they wouldn't pay large salaries.
ctownvol writes:
WD- I thought Mrs WD had the happy pills locked up?
chargervol writes:
Oh! So you guys do read these posts. Then tell me why you let MV, SCKNOWSNOTHING, and these other trolls post stupid childish posts. Go back and look at some of their posts, and tell me, how do they contribute to the topics of discussion? Do you guys enjoy their idiocracy, or do you hope they continue to disrupt constructive talk. Let me guess, you don't want to piss Obama off so that he will pull the plug on you. As always, GO VOLS!!!
higgman55 writes:
This "NADA" coach, OPENED A CAN OF WHUPP, on you didn't he?!! GO VOLLUNTEERS!!
VolunteerLifer writes:
Next year the gators and notre dame will have something in common - a head coach. Good news, gator fans - Navy beat notre dame last weekend. Start preparing your goodbye speeches for urbiecryer.
Volunatic writes:
I suspect the Fighting Irish will lead in that category soon, though.
chargervol writes:
Still waiting on a reply. The red phone line is waiting.GO VOLS!!!
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