Three year old data of total HC salaries (bonuses included) of teams in the 2012 NCAA tournament:
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/story/2012-03-28/ncaa-coaches-salary-database/53827374/1A few notables:
Vermont $170K
SDSU $150K
The Griz $166K
Norfolk st. $125.5K
MS Val St $87.5K
Lamar $150K
It looks like HC salary isn't the only variable regarding the success of a D1 MBB program.
It is interesting that YSU could afford gems like Barnes, Bolden, and Tressel....but we must languish in failure with Slocum.
Here's a Vindy article from when Slocum's contract was renewed titled, "Like it or not, Slocum will return."
http://www.vindy.com/news/2011/mar/02/like-it-or-not-slocum-will-return/Some excerpts from that article:
"...it’s also hard to argue that Slocum is the school’s long-term answer.
He makes no effort to build relationships with fans or boosters — something Robic, as prickly as he was, at least tried to do — and he’s even worse with the media."
"He’s also struggled to keep players. Six have left in the last 12 months, with another, Devonte Maymon, likely to leave after this season. If you make the argument that most of them needed to go — something I’ve heard — well, who recruited them in the first place?"
"More surprising, there doesn't seem to be any outrage from fans, boosters or school officials about the sad state of the basketball program.
Until enough people speak up and the school decides to make a strong financial commitment to fielding a competitive basketball team, the Penguins will continue to pay rent in the Horizon League’s basement."
Four years ago, it was apparent that we had a HC that couldn't retain players he put the time and expense into recruiting and developing, and puts no effort into public relations....and who doesn't win.
Not surprisingly, we have the same deficiencies four years later. His contract renewal assured four more years of failure.
Scalzo's comment about the lack of outrage is interesting. The expression of outrage, IMO, was fans quietly distancing themselves from the debacle known as YSU MBB.
The AD's renewal of Slocum's and Heacock's contracts doomed those revenue generating programs for years, and those gross errors in judgment have gone unanswered.
The Athletic Department is under the purview of the University President, and gross misuse of University resources in the Athletic Department should concern President Tressel. I applaud his efforts to get BP here, but allowing MBB, the second revenue generating sport at YSU to remain adrift is very disappointing. Maybe we are chained to Slocum for another year, but the guy that chained us to him, knowing he was underperforming (see the Vindy article), should be held accountable.
An by accountable.....I mean fired.
