MORGANTOWN - Despite saving nearly $1 million on a new head coach, West Virginia's total outlay for its new football coaching staff comes at a savings of less than 10 percent over the previous staff.
MORGANTOWN - Despite saving nearly $1 million on a new head coach, West Virginia's total outlay for its new football coaching staff comes at a savings of less than 10 percent over the previous staff.
That's because the nine assistant coaches and a new strength and conditioning coordinator are collectively making far more than those who held the same positions before them.
The bottom lines are these, according to figures just settled upon by the school's athletic department:
The old staff, headed by Rich Rodriguez and his $1,783,333 salary for the 2007 season, was paid $3,145,833.The new staff, including the $800,000 given to new head coach Bill Stewart, will make $2,850,000, or 90.6 percent of what the former staff was paid.
"The night Billy and I shook hands and agreed that he would become our new coach, we also agreed on our first three priorities,'' WVU athletic director Ed Pastilong said Friday, referring to the night Stewart coached the Mountaineers to a 48-28 win over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl in early January. "First, we wanted not to lose focus on our current student-athletes. Second was assembling a great staff and third was recruiting.
"As far as the coaching staff was concerned, we discussed having the resources to put together the best group of coaches in the country. Those who chose to stay [from the former staff] got first attention and then we went from there. It wasn't that we put a number out there and said, 'This is it,' but Billy made suggestions and over the course of the next few weeks came back to me and let me know what he wanted to do and what he needed. And this is what it came to. I couldn't be happier.''
In addition to the significantly increased outlay for the assistant coaches is also a provision still in the works to guarantee their salaries in two-year rollover contracts. While the state does not allow for multi-year contracts, the athletic department is in the process of working with the Mountaineer Athletic Club and the WVU Foundation to underwrite the two-year guarantees.
"It's not done yet, but it will be,'' Pastilong said.
As an example of how the salaries of the assistant coaches were increased, in 2007 no WVU assistant coach made over $190,000. That's what former offensive coordinator Calvin Magee made. Of the nine assistant coaches for 2008, no less than six will make $200,000 or more.
The list is headed by Doc Holliday, who was lured from Florida for $400,000 a year, and his contract will be guaranteed for five years. In addition to coaching the team's tight ends and linebackers, Holliday is also the recruiting coordinator and the associate head coach.
MORGANTOWN - Despite saving nearly $1 million on a new head coach, West Virginia's total outlay for its new football coaching staff comes at a savings of less than 10 percent over the previous staff.
That's because the nine assistant coaches and a new strength and conditioning coordinator are collectively making far more than those who held the same positions before them.
The bottom lines are these, according to figures just settled upon by the school's athletic department:
The old staff, headed by Rich Rodriguez and his $1,783,333 salary for the 2007 season, was paid $3,145,833.The new staff, including the $800,000 given to new head coach Bill Stewart, will make $2,850,000, or 90.6 percent of what the former staff was paid."The night Billy and I shook hands and agreed that he would become our new coach, we also agreed on our first three priorities,'' WVU athletic director Ed Pastilong said Friday, referring to the night Stewart coached the Mountaineers to a 48-28 win over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl in early January. "First, we wanted not to lose focus on our current student-athletes. Second was assembling a great staff and third was recruiting.
"As far as the coaching staff was concerned, we discussed having the resources to put together the best group of coaches in the country. Those who chose to stay [from the former staff] got first attention and then we went from there. It wasn't that we put a number out there and said, 'This is it,' but Billy made suggestions and over the course of the next few weeks came back to me and let me know what he wanted to do and what he needed. And this is what it came to. I couldn't be happier.''
In addition to the significantly increased outlay for the assistant coaches is also a provision still in the works to guarantee their salaries in two-year rollover contracts. While the state does not allow for multi-year contracts, the athletic department is in the process of working with the Mountaineer Athletic Club and the WVU Foundation to underwrite the two-year guarantees.
"It's not done yet, but it will be,'' Pastilong said.
As an example of how the salaries of the assistant coaches were increased, in 2007 no WVU assistant coach made over $190,000. That's what former offensive coordinator Calvin Magee made. Of the nine assistant coaches for 2008, no less than six will make $200,000 or more.
The list is headed by Doc Holliday, who was lured from Florida for $400,000 a year, and his contract will be guaranteed for five years. In addition to coaching the team's tight ends and linebackers, Holliday is also the recruiting coordinator and the associate head coach.
"It's clear [Holliday] is being rewarded for what he brings, but he's also going to have far more on his plate,'' Pastilong said. "Doc will be doing a lot of fund-raising, public speaking, his recruiting and all sorts of things in addition to his on-field duties. He's taking on a lot of responsibility.''
The next-highest paid member of the staff is defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel. He and defensive line coach Bill Kirelawich were the only assistant coaches who elected to remain at West Virginia. Casteel made $160,000 last year and will be bumped to $275,000 next season.
New offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen will make $225,000, as will offensive line coach Dave Johnson, who gave up a job at Georgia to return to his alma mater.
Safeties coach and assistant head coach Steve Dunlap and secondary coach Dave Lockwood will make $200,000 a year.
Kirelawich, who made $123,000 last season, got a raise to $175,000. Running backs coach Chris Beatty and wide receivers coach Lonnie Galloway, the two youngest members of the staff, will make $125,000 each.
Also included among the assistant coaches is new strength and conditioning coordinator Mike Joseph, who will make $100,000. His predecessor, Mike Barwis, was paid $127,500.
Including the strength and conditioning position, the 10 assistants next season will make a total of $2.05 million. The same 10 positions last season cost the school just over $1.36 million.
To contact staff writer Dave Hickman, use e-mail or call 348-1734.
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