There are 39 states in the United States where the highest-paid state employee is either a college football coach or a college basketball coach. Crazy? Or crazy like a fox?
We can get into a debate about how crazy it is to see the amount of money that schools are spending on salaries for their high-level football or basketball coaches. Part of me thinks it’s crazy to see Nick Saban making over $8 million a year. But if you ask the people in Alabama if they think he’s worth it I think, except Auburn fans, the resounding answer is yes.
Nick Saban makes money for Alabama and not just on the football field.
Over half of the students who attend Alabama are out-of-state students who claim that a primary reason they are attending Alabama is the notoriety of the football program. They all see a winner and want to be a winner too.
Out-of-state students pay double what an in-state student pays. That student doesn’t cost Alabama any more money to educate, but they are happy to accept the extra money they generate.
Alabama athletics continue to grow as a direct result of the success of the football program. The money generated by the football program allows the entire athletic program to grow. We see the benefit every time we see Patrick Murphy and his program in the national spotlight. They have earned the accolades because of their performance on the field but the money to build so many great programs is a direct result of Saban’s football success.
So the bottom line is pretty clear: Nick Saban makes a lot of money, and he might be underpaid!!
About the Author: Tory Acheson brings a wealth of knowledge to the Fastpitch Prep staff. He has coached at all levels of the game, including the last 25 years at the college level at the University of Wisconsin – Parkside, Tennessee Tech and Kennesaw State. He began his coaching career at the high school level spending 9 years Whitnall High School in Greenfield, Wis. and is now working as a professional softball instructor.
