PAC-10 Assistant Coaches

[BlueHair]

How does it matter?

I think it matters because coaching is very important. If they consistently get out-coached, they won't have much success. Sitake, Roderick, and Johnson will need to learn quickly.

[jay santos]

I think it matters because coaching is very important. If they consistently get out-coached, they won't have much success. Sitake, Roderick, and Johnson will need to learn quickly.

Agree coaching is important.

Maybe you're not saying this, but I've seen the following logic on CB that I just don't get. Pac-10 coaches are paid a lot. Utah coaches aren't. Utah's going to the Pac-10. Haha Utah, you're going to have to pay your coaches more or you're suck! Get used to increased costs or suckitude.

1) Utah's getting somewhere in the neighborhood of $10M incremental by Pac 10 affiliation. They can pay each assistant $1M if they want and still be ahead.

2) Utah's done fine against Pac 10 and other BCS schools the past ten years, why should that change now?

3) Non-BCS schools current and historical have been known for having great coaching staffs: Utah, BYU, TCU, Boise State, etc. Moving these coaching staffs from non-BCS to BCS doesn't make them bad staffs by comparing salary figures.

[LA Ute]

According to the athletics administration at the U., comparative assistant salaries in the PAC are not a concern. I heard some specifics about why, and how they plan to address this, but I must admit I've forgotten those specifics. I do recall thinking that what I heard made sense and didn't seem like a smokescreen. So FWIW.

[scottie]

DJ and PK interviewed KW on the radio this morning. I thought DJ started down the path of asking Kyle if he thought his assistants were up to PAC10/12 standards (DJ said something like, "There seems to be a family feel to your staff...") but he didn't take the bait, he only responded by saying that he thinks his staff will be getting raises and moved on to the next question.

[Uncle Ted]

According to the athletics administration at the U., comparative assistant salaries in the PAC are not a concern. I heard some specifics about why, and how they plan to address this, but I must admit I've forgotten those specifics. I do recall thinking that what I heard made sense and didn't seem like a smokescreen. So FWIW.

Maybe it is like the faculty and staff at BYU and those working for the church that are underpaid. They can justify their non-competitive salaries because they view their jobs as more of a calling and/or their primary contribution to "building up the kingdom". There is a flaw in this logic, however. If these people take a much higher paying job elsewhere they can pay more tithing and even make nice, fat donations back. I am not sure former UofU employees would contribute back, however, without being forced to do so (via taxes).

[UtahDan]

I think it matters because coaching is very important. If they consistently get out-coached, they won't have much success. Sitake, Roderick, and Johnson will need to learn quickly.

I think this is something it will be critically important to evaluate at the end of next year. I think our program was hurt this year by its assistant coaches, some of whom in my opinion just weren't ready. If they can improve over this year so that by the end of next year we aren't talking about them, great. If not, we will be in a position to hire better ones by virtue of conference affiliation. Pac 10 assistants get head coaching jobs and we will be able to pay competitively. So I'm willing to give Whit's "promote from within" philosophy another year to play out. It will be a year of adjustments all around. But if, for example, our quarterback still has terrible mechanics and is flushing himself out of the pocket and into pressure next year, Brian Johnson should be looking for a new job. Hopefully he will mature and progress along with the rest of the inexperienced assistants.

[LA Ute]

Maybe it is like the faculty and staff at BYU and those working for the church that are underpaid. They can justify their non-competitive salaries because they view their jobs as more of a calling and/or their primary contribution to "building up the kingdom". There is a flaw in this logic, however. If these people take a much higher paying job elsewhere they can pay more tithing and even make nice, fat donations back. I am not sure former UofU employees would contribute back, however, without being forced to do so (via taxes).

Although I'll admit that it is a high and holy calling to coach at Utah, what I meant by "not a concern" is that the Utah administration is not worried about finding the money necessary.

[Surfah]

I think Utah is stupid to give Sitake, Team Schroderick, and BJ a raise simply because they move to the Pac 10.

[UtahDan]

I think Utah is stupid to give Sitake, Team Schroderick, and BJ a raise simply because they move to the Pac 10.

Depends on how much. They should get evaluated at the end of this year and get a raise if their performance merits it. I think you give them an inflation raise no matter what, plus whatever you practice is for bench marks the team hits. But big raises across the board? Only if they are deserved and I can make a pretty good case that at least one of them doesn't at all.

[Surfah]

Depends on how much. They should get evaluated at the end of this year and get a raise if their performance merits it. I think you give them an inflation raise no matter what, plus whatever you practice is for bench marks the team hits. But big raises across the board? Only if they are deserved and I can make a pretty good case that at least one of them doesn't at all.

Sure, give them their 3%. But to give them raises just to bring them in line with the Pac 10 assistants is just silly. That's just my opinion, and it isn't my money. But despite your 10 win season I don't think any of them merit it.

[Jarid in Cedar]

I mentioned this to HL at the game. My concern with our assistant coaches is that there needs to be an infusion of new thoughts/ideas/paradigms in a program to avoid stagnation. Too many of the coaches have not coached in other places: Hill, Johnson, Scalley, have been nowwhere but Utah. Roderick and Sitake came from SUU as their only other experiences. That is why Greg Miller and JD Williams were great hires because they brought in outside perspective. Sadly, Williams took a promotion at UNLV. The work he did with Stanford and Burton last year cannot be understated.

I would like to see some of our assistants go somewhere else for a stretch or the next group of hires be from a more diverse pool. Loyalty has some drawbacks.

[Surfah]

I mentioned this to HL at the game. My concern with our assistant coaches is that there needs to be an infusion of new thoughts/ideas/paradigms in a program to avoid stagnation. Too many of the coaches have not coached in other places: Hill, Johnson, Scalley, have been nowwhere but Utah. Roderick and Sitake came from SUU as their only other experiences. That is why Greg Miller and JD Williams were great hires because they brought in outside perspective. Sadly, Williams took a promotion at UNLV. The work he did with Stanford and Burton last year cannot be understated.

I would like to see some of our assistants go somewhere else for a stretch or the next group of hires be from a more diverse pool. Loyalty has some drawbacks.

This is an excellent point. JIC you're a reasonable Ute.

[LA Ute]

I mentioned this to HL at the game. My concern with our assistant coaches is that there needs to be an infusion of new thoughts/ideas/paradigms in a program to avoid stagnation. Too many of the coaches have not coached in other places: Hill, Johnson, Scalley, have been nowwhere but Utah. Roderick and Sitake came from SUU as their only other experiences. That is why Greg Miller and JD Williams were great hires because they brought in outside perspective. Sadly, Williams took a promotion at UNLV. The work he did with Stanford and Burton last year cannot be understated.

I would like to see some of our assistants go somewhere else for a stretch or the next group of hires be from a more diverse pool. Loyalty has some drawbacks.

Makes sense to me.

Sure, give them their 3%. But to give them raises just to bring them in line with the Pac 10 assistants is just silly. That's just my opinion, and it isn't my money. But despite your 10 win season I don't think any of them merit it.

I agree that it is hard to find any aspect of Utah's performance this season that simply shone. It feels odd to say that after 10 wins, but I think it's true. More to the point of this thread, though, I don't think it will be very hard for Utah to come up with the money needed to get good PAC12-level assistants.

[Surfah]

Makes sense to me.



I agree that it is hard to find any aspect of Utah's performance this season that simply shone. It feels odd to say that after 10 wins, but I think it's true. More to the point of this thread, though, I don't think it will be very hard for Utah to come up with the money needed to get good PAC12-level assistants.

Oh, I know Utah has the money. I just don't think they should spend it on their current assistants simply because they're now a BCS team. But that's just me.

[Coach McGuirk]

Thanks Surfah. I would be surprised if Schramm, Roderick and Sitake weren't bumped up to 200k this offseason. I'm guessing that's the first thing the new PAC-12 money will go towards.

Hmm, I guess that isn't a bad way to go. As a head coach, I would certainly be looking to make sure I have a guy that is worth that next pay grade and not just be bumping salaries because the program moved up. You open up to a new talent level at that kind of money.