if you've ever ventured to the "bunker" our green and white clad friends inhabit on the Spartan site, you'll notice a VERY common topic of discussion is the "outrageous" amount of money Jim Harbaugh is paid, how he's the "most overpaid coach of all time," and how "$9 million is only good for 3rd place!" Don't bother trying to point out how much money the athletic department has made since JH's arrival, the increase in overall endowment, applications, the new television contract, Nike, etc. none of it matters to our Spartan friends.
So instead of rebutting these incessant claims with, you know, basic understanding of economics (in reality JH is worth a hell of a lot more per season than $9 million to the university) I thought it might be interesting to take a look at Mark D'antoni's financial winfall over the past 16 months, and Spartan fiscal responsibility.
So, first a caveat: for some reason MSU fans (and the media in general to an extent) like to simplify college football salaries as if they were structured similarly to the NFL. In the NFL players are given "game checks" and make a vast majority of their overall pay during the 17 week season. That's not how it works for college coaches, but people love saying things like "only 800k per win for Harbaugh!" So we will use the same standard here.
Before the 2016 season MD signed an extension that guarantees him $4.3 million per season through 2020. He is also paid a tenure based bonus each season, about 700k last year and 750k this season, payable at the beginning of the academic year. By my count, in 2016 MD made roughly $5.3 million, and has collected (beginning of the year bonus included) about $2.7 million this season. He has made roughly $8 million since the beginning of the 2016 season.
In that time, MSU has won 5 of 15 games. MSU has gone 1-8 against big ten opponents. MSU has a 1-10 record against Power 5 opponents. The only power 5 team MSU has beaten in its last 16 games is 2016 Rutgers, statistically the worst power 5 team of the last 7 years. Teams MSU has beaten since the start of 2016 have combined to win exactly ONE game against power 5 opponents since losing to the SPARTANS (ND last year). Michigan State has not beaten a team with a winning record in over 400 days.
In short:
Since the beginning of 2016 MD has been made a staggering $1.6 million per win.
MD has been paid $2.3 million for every conference win.
MD has been paid $8 million per Power 5 victory.
For anyone that ever says Jim Harbaugh is overpaid....what's going on in EL these last two seasons is a travesty!
Now, obviously this post is a bit tongue in cheek and the sample size is small, but looking at these numbers it's honestly unbelievable to me that less than 2 years ago MSU was playing alabama in the inaugural playoff after winning the big ten. Talk about pride before the fall!
Wow. Go Blue. Bye week = extended rivalry week.
So instead of rebutting these incessant claims with, you know, basic understanding of economics (in reality JH is worth a hell of a lot more per season than $9 million to the university) I thought it might be interesting to take a look at Mark D'antoni's financial winfall over the past 16 months, and Spartan fiscal responsibility.
So, first a caveat: for some reason MSU fans (and the media in general to an extent) like to simplify college football salaries as if they were structured similarly to the NFL. In the NFL players are given "game checks" and make a vast majority of their overall pay during the 17 week season. That's not how it works for college coaches, but people love saying things like "only 800k per win for Harbaugh!" So we will use the same standard here.
Before the 2016 season MD signed an extension that guarantees him $4.3 million per season through 2020. He is also paid a tenure based bonus each season, about 700k last year and 750k this season, payable at the beginning of the academic year. By my count, in 2016 MD made roughly $5.3 million, and has collected (beginning of the year bonus included) about $2.7 million this season. He has made roughly $8 million since the beginning of the 2016 season.
In that time, MSU has won 5 of 15 games. MSU has gone 1-8 against big ten opponents. MSU has a 1-10 record against Power 5 opponents. The only power 5 team MSU has beaten in its last 16 games is 2016 Rutgers, statistically the worst power 5 team of the last 7 years. Teams MSU has beaten since the start of 2016 have combined to win exactly ONE game against power 5 opponents since losing to the SPARTANS (ND last year). Michigan State has not beaten a team with a winning record in over 400 days.
In short:
Since the beginning of 2016 MD has been made a staggering $1.6 million per win.
MD has been paid $2.3 million for every conference win.
MD has been paid $8 million per Power 5 victory.
For anyone that ever says Jim Harbaugh is overpaid....what's going on in EL these last two seasons is a travesty!
Now, obviously this post is a bit tongue in cheek and the sample size is small, but looking at these numbers it's honestly unbelievable to me that less than 2 years ago MSU was playing alabama in the inaugural playoff after winning the big ten. Talk about pride before the fall!
Wow. Go Blue. Bye week = extended rivalry week.
