[Rosiak's Blog] Tom Crean's outgoing salary at MU

[ToddRosiakSays]

Tom Crean's outgoing salary at MU
              

In the spring of 2008 when Tom Crean announced that he was leaving Marquette University to take the head-coaching job at Indiana University, he was asked what factored into his decision.

"Because it's Indiana," Crean said.

Judging from a federal tax filing provided Thursday by Marquette University and published accounts of his salary at Indiana, it appears money was not the main reason Crean moved to Bloomington.

According to the federal tax filing for the year ending June 30, 2008, which is the most recent year available, Crean was paid $2,298,526 to coach at Marquette.

At Indiana, Crean was ultimately given a 10-year contract worth an estimated $23.6 million. That works out to roughly $2.36 million a year.

At Marquette, Crean also was given $31,648 in an employee benefit plan and deferred compensation, and just over $9,000 in expense money.

At Indiana, Crean receives $15,000 per year for term life insurance.

Coaches' salaries are always a hot topic in collegiate sports, particularly in an age where universities are forced to make painful cuts on the academic side. John Calipari, the new coach at the University of Kentucky, has an eight-year, $31.65 million contract. That is believed to be the most lucrative contract in college basketball.

The MU filing also shows that current coach Buzz Williams was paid $409,311 as Crean's top assistant. Williams' salary was higher than the salary paid Terri L. Mitchell, the women's coach. Mitchell was paid $328,698 for the year ending June 30, 2008.

However, Williams' salary as an assistant reflects two months in which he was being paid as a full-time head coach. Williams was given a six-year contract in April 2008.

When Marquette named Williams to replace Crean, Williams' salary was not disclosed. However, sources say Williams is being paid between $800,000 to $1 million a year.
              

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/46957502.html
              

[BrewCity83]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm....with the roughly $2.5 Mill per year MU is saving on it's BBall coaches since TC left, maybe they should bring back Wrestling and start up a Varsity Baseball program!

[Skatastrophy]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm....with the roughly $2.5 Mill per year MU is saving on it's BBall coaches since TC left, maybe they should bring back Wrestling and start up a Varsity Baseball program!

I would also accept more free tshirts sitting on my seats for home games next year. 

[Eye]

Not trying to change the topic, but I've said forever that two adds would make perfect sense in my mind for MU; baseball and softball.

[Marquette Mama]

The MU filing also shows that current coach buzz Williams was paid $409,311 as Crean's top assistant. Williams' salary was higher than the salary paid Terri L. Mitchell, the women's coach. Mitchell was paid $328,698 for the year ending June 30, 2008.           

If I were Terri Mitchell, I'd be ticked.

[BrewCity83]

Terri Mitchell's got a pretty good gig.  And is paid well.  Since the women's team is a money loser, it gets supported by the profits from the mens' team.  She should be happy with what she's making--and I'm sure she is.

[Skatastrophy]

Not trying to change the topic, but I've said forever that two adds would make perfect sense in my mind for MU; baseball and softball.

Do we have someplace we can play?  I don't recall seeing a baseball diamond down at Valley Fields.

[MUfan2]

Terri Mitchell makes $330k a year?  Um, okay.

[MUfan2]

If I were Terri Mitchell, I'd be ticked.

I really hope this was you being facetious.  Two NCAA appearances in the last 8 years and you think she should be ticked for only making $330,000 a year? 

Are you kidding me?

[77ncaachamps]

At Indiana, Crean was ultimately given a 10-year contract worth an estimated $23.6 million. That works out to roughly $2.36 million a year.

That was the average, but - please correct me if I'm recalling incorrectly - his contract was frontloaded.

Also, I wonder what the bonus structure was when he was at MU, as well as how much he made in incentives. With the .pdf that was on here last year, it showed some nice 5-6 digit incentives.

Interesting numbers...Good Job, TODD!!!

[77ncaachamps]

I really hope this was you being facetious.  Two NCAA appearances in the last 8 years and you think she should be ticked for only making $330,000 a year? 

Are you kidding me?

You're forgetting the NIT Title.

[esotericmindguy]

I really hope this was you being facetious.  Two NCAA appearances in the last 8 years and you think she should be ticked for only making $330,000 a year? 

Are you kidding me?

And lets be honest, no one cares about women's basketball.  Sure we can discuss their success' or shortcomings but it doesn't effect our moods or make the winter tolerable.  Look no further then the 1000 people at each game made up mostly of family and friends.  

Frankly I'm ticked that she makes that much.  330K for a sport that probably costs the university 250K.

[4everwarriors]

It is common knowledge that Mitchell has interviewed for other head coaching positions in the past.

[Tom Crean's Tanning Bed]

It is common knowledge that Mitchell has interviewed for other head coaching positions in the past.

Did she interview for the Duke job a few years back?

[BrewCity83]

I'm pretty sure that the women's BBall program is a money loser overall.

[nyg]

I like the $9,000 expense money he got or $750 per month beer money. 

[4everwarriors]

Did she interview for the Duke job a few years back?

Yes, and that's a job she coveted. Unfortunately, she came in number 2.

[Tom Crean's Tanning Bed]

And lets be honest, no one cares about women's basketball.  Sure we can discuss their success' or shortcomings but it doesn't effect our moods or make the winter tolerable.  Look no further then the 1000 people at each game made up mostly of family and friends. 

Frankly I'm ticked that she makes that much.  330K for a sport that probably costs the university 250K.

Actually, I would guess that women's hoops probably costs 4-5x your estimate.  If you factor in Mitchell's salary, assistant coaches/staff salaries, cost of 12/13 scholarships, and travel/recruiting expenses, it's probably easily in the $1-$1.25 million range.

[MR.HAYWARD]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm....with the roughly $2.5 Mill per year MU is saving on it's BBall coaches since TC left, maybe they should bring back Wrestling and start up a Varsity Baseball program!

wow are you an MPS grad?  good math

[GGGG]

Well, if Mitchell feels that she is underpaid, she should go out and get another job.  But I don't think that's gonna happen.

And remember a lot of a coach's salary is tied to things like shoe contracts and camps.  And let's face it, the men's program is going to be more valuable than a woman's program in that regard.

[79Warrior]

that is one heck of a salary for a guy who basically had one successful post season run in 9 years.

[Marquette Mama]

Terri Mitchell's got a pretty good gig.  And is paid well.  Since the women's team is a money loser, it gets supported by the profits from the mens' team.  She should be happy with what she's making--and I'm sure she is.

$330K is good money by almost anyone's standards. And it's men's bball vs. women's. I get that.

What caught my attention was that Williams after 8 years as head coach at MU would make less than an assistant coach coming to MU in his first year.  That's all.

When you factor in the fact that 2 months of Buzz's salary was at head coach pay, my assumption may or may not even be true. You'd also have to factor in when Buzz started at MU... he didn't leave UNO till July, so the salary listed does not reflect a full year. 

[sailwi]

Is anyone surprised an assistant coach was making 400k, guess we really don't know the market for assistant coaches.  I always thought a top assistant in BB was equivelant to a coordinator in football and IIRC the offensive coordinator at UW makes about 200k.  Was Buzz an exception or is that the norm for a top 50 program these days.

[4everwarriors]

that is one heck of a salary for a guy who basically had one successful post season run in 9 years.

Highway robbery if you ask me. Crean should kiss Wade's sphincter every night.

[Eye]

Do we have someplace we can play?  I don't recall seeing a baseball diamond down at Valley Fields.

Does someone have an answer for this? Having seen the facility someone like Whitewater has in the WSUC, I'd imagine MU could do something like that for BB and SB. The land close to campus could be another issue, however.

[bma725]

Does someone have an answer for this? Having seen the facility someone like Whitewater has in the WSUC, I'd imagine MU could do something like that for BB and SB. The land close to campus could be another issue, however.

There isn't one at Valley Fields and there isn't really the land for it either.  I think there used to be a diamond at the park on Kilbourn between 18th and 19th but it wasn't really appropriate for a college team.  The next closest is at Merrill Park by Marquette High, but again that's not really good enough for a college team.  The MU club team just to find a field appropriate for them goes all the way to Zablocki Park, which is on 37th and Howard, not exactly close to MU. 

[Guy Fieri's Dad]

Adding baseball or softball would be a bad idea.  These sports rarely bring any money to a university.  The money could be spent in much wiser ways.

[BrewCity83]

Like what?  More Hypobaric chambers?  Some new Hummers for the BBall coaches?

[GGGG]

Adding baseball or softball would be a bad idea.  These sports rarely bring any money to a university.  The money could be spent in much wiser ways.

+1.  A baseball program would not be competitive.  There aren't enough prospects in the midwest to put together a decent team and it would most assuredly lose money.  Have you seen how irrelevent the Big Ten has become in baseball?  It has increasingly become a southern and western sport for weather reasons.  When I was a kid, I remember a Big Ten team in the College World Series every other year or so.  I cannot remember the last time there has been one lately.

Softball might be a little better, but not much. 

[jt92]

Ordinarily I (in the nicest way possible of course) would tell people to take their comments to the women's board..but in this instance I must respond.  $330k for the women's coach!!!  Is MU insane?!!!  I hope she is looking for another job.  Who cares about Tan Cream anymore.  Doesn't the school know that no one watches women's basketball unless you live in the dumb state of CT?  Holy cow!!  I have nothing against women's sports or the programs at MU but $330,000?  Outrageous!!!

[Aughnanure]

Not trying to change the topic, but I've said forever that two adds would make perfect sense in my mind for MU; baseball and softball.

Universities this far north do not have competitive baseball or softball teams. Where and how would they play and practice come March? Everyone always seems to bring up baseball but no one thinks about hockey as being the most natural and easiest fit? The University of Nebraska and Omaha and Ferris State (whatever that is) compete in the same conference as Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio St, etc...so why could't we?

[ChicosBailBonds]

Highway robbery if you ask me. Crean should kiss Wade's sphincter every night.

When you factor in that it's the ONLY SUCCESSFUL RUN by a MU coach in 25 years, that might have something to do with it as well.  Plus he's the ONLY coach in the last 20 years to stay beyond that ripe tenure of 5 years, also had something to do with it.

It would be one thing if MU was cranking out Final Four runs every 5 years or coaches were staying here forever, but that isn't the case....even as much as people around this board want to claim MU was some kind of destination program.  It wasn't, and I'd argue it still isn't (though it's better than it was....and Crean got it in that position now where it's better than it was).

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Universities this far north do not have competitive baseball or softball teams. Where and how would they play and practice come March? Everyone always seems to bring up baseball but no one thinks about hockey as being the most natural and easiest fit? The University of Nebraska and Omaha and Ferris State (whatever that is) compete in the same conference as Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio St, etc...so why could't we?

It's a pretty compelling point, especially with the BC right down the street.

It would be tough to balance the BC schedule between hockey and hoops... but it could work.

With this said, MU would struggle to get a ton of student involvement because MU isn't that big of a school and it would be difficult to be a hardcore hoops and hockey fan. I'm not saying it's not possible, just saying you can't expect 5,000 students at every hockey and basketball game.

But, hockey is an interesting option... especially if the Bucks ever leave town. More open dates at the BC, and MU could get some weekend games for the hockey team.

What about title 9? Add woman's hockey too? where do they play?

[ChicosBailBonds]

Does someone have an answer for this? Having seen the facility someone like Whitewater has in the WSUC, I'd imagine MU could do something like that for BB and SB. The land close to campus could be another issue, however.

Not happening, move on.  Baseball programs in DI programs have been cut a lot in the last 15 years, very few are adding programs.  Even UW-Madison had to drop theirs.  Vermont just dropped theirs last week.  Not going to happen.

If you see sports added, it's going to be something like women's golf, women's field hockey, women's lacrosse.  They key notation there is FEMALE.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

When you factor in that it's the ONLY SUCCESSFUL RUN by a MU coach in 25 years, that might have something to do with it as well.  Plus he's the ONLY coach in the last 20 years to stay beyond that ripe tenure of 5 years, also had something to do with it.

It would be one thing if MU was cranking out Final Four runs every 5 years or coaches were staying here forever, but that isn't the case....even as much as people around this board want to claim MU was some kind of destination program.  It wasn't, and I'd argue it still isn't (though it's better than it was....and Crean got it in that position now where it's better than it was).

It's not only about success. It's about being a good person. Crean was not. Therefore, he shouldn't have gotten paid like he did. Arrogant, difficult people don't deserve high salaries from a Jesuit university.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Universities this far north do not have competitive baseball or softball teams. Where and how would they play and practice come March? Everyone always seems to bring up baseball but no one thinks about hockey as being the most natural and easiest fit? The University of Nebraska and Omaha and Ferris State (whatever that is) compete in the same conference as Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio St, etc...so why could't we?

Actually women's softball this far north is competitive.  Michigan has an outstanding program (top 5 in the USA).  DePaul is a perrenial top 25 program.  Ohio State, UMass, Northwestern are all top 20 programs.  Notre Dame is a good program as well.  Even Iowa has it's moments.

Baseball I agree with you, for the most part it's not that good up north.  Michigan and Minnesota have had their moments every once in awhile, Maine used to be solid and Notre Dame is fairly good, but for the most part it's the ACC, SEC, Big 12 and Pac Ten dominating for a long time.

[ChicosBailBonds]

It's not only about success. It's about being a good person. Crean was not. Therefore, he shouldn't have gotten paid like he did. Arrogant, difficult people don't deserve high salaries from a Jesuit university.

Was this supposed to be in teal?   

[MarquetteBallin]

No chance MU could ever get baseball. No recruiting base, no facilities, and weather alone make it impossible. How many northern schools are successful in baseball? Maybe two or three and that's it. Northern Iowa just cut baseball this year because it's a financial drain on the athletic department.

The only sport MU could realistically add would be hockey.

[GGGG]

No chance MU could ever get baseball. No recruiting base, no facilities, and weather alone make it impossible. How many northern schools are successful in baseball? Maybe two or three and that's it. Northern Iowa just cut baseball this year because it's a financial drain on the athletic department.

The only sport MU could realistically add would be hockey.

And I don't think that is all that realistic both because of cost and because of Title IX.  They would have to sink money into another sport that would undoubtedly be a money loser - maybe gymnastics or softball.

[MarquetteBallin]

Chicks in leotards? Fine by me

[CAINMUTINY]

I second adding a women's gymnastics program....

[Blackhat]

I second adding a women's gymnastics program....

I will offer a third.   But I'm going to have to make some time to make it to a few women's volleyball games this fall.   Here's a new MU recruit from northern California.  (and yes I know I'm a pig)

[VegasWarrior77]

I like the Jim Plunkett jersey!

[WellsstreetWanderer]

University of Washington has had a top ten softball program for at least  the last ten years. Michigan used to be competitive. Don't follow it much now that all the kids I coached have moved ion

Not the ideal weather  either place

[muwarrior87]

the most realistic sports to add would be men's hockey and women's crew. the women's club crew team is very successful and already competes at the national regattas and places well so it would not be that difficult to add and have success.

[ChicosBailBonds]

University of Washington has had a top ten softball program for at least  the last ten years. Michigan used to be competitive. Don't follow it much now that all the kids I coached have moved ion

Not the ideal weather  either place

Michigan is in the top 5 in softball, there are MANY top 25 programs in cold weather areas for softball.  Baseball, however, is a different story.

[ChicosBailBonds]

the most realistic sports to add would be men's hockey and women's crew. the women's club crew team is very successful and already competes at the national regattas and places well so it would not be that difficult to add and have success.

The thing is, it's really not that realistic for MU to add ANY men's programs now or any time in the foreseeable future.  Even if the school was surrounded by lakes and every skated to class each day, we're not going to start a hockey team for the men.  Too much money, need a place to play (= $$$$), huge ramifications for Title IX, etc, etc.  I realize it seems to make sense from the aspect of geography, but from the aspect of politics, economics and the law (which are linked at the core of politics and economics on this issue), it's just not going to happen.

You might see some women's teams added, but you won't see any men's teams added unless there are a bunch of women's teams added at the same time. 

[Eye]

Universities this far north do not have competitive baseball or softball teams. Where and how would they play and practice come March? Everyone always seems to bring up baseball but no one thinks about hockey as being the most natural and easiest fit? The University of Nebraska and Omaha and Ferris State (whatever that is) compete in the same conference as Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio St, etc...so why could't we?

Men's and women's hockey would be my second choice.

And Chicos has pretty much brought up all the decent teams that play SB in the northern part of the country.

Will anyone ever figure out that FB shouldn't be part of the Title IX equation? Last time I checked there isn't women's FB. But I'm all for the equal numbers of scholarships for sports that are played by both genders when there is demand for those scholarships, be it in VB, golf, tennis, CC, soccer, basketball, gymnastics, track, BB/SB, swimming, hockey, whatever. It's well-meaning, but very poorly executed, legislation (sorry if that moved toward something that should be on another board).