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Just the Stats: What Public HBCU Coaches Are Paid, Part I

Diverse recently conducted a survey in order to compare the compensation and salary packages of head coaches at public historically Black colleges and universities.

Thirty-three of the 47 public HBCUs responded to the survey, a statistically significant 70 percent. A full analysis was conducted for football and both women’s and men’s basketball. The review contains data on base and total compensation. Base compensation is defined as the total public funds that the head coach received during the 2006-2007 academic year. Total compensation includes any additional compensation from revenue generated at camps, and incentive bonuses, for having an academically successful team or winning championships, among other things.

The survey was sent to the human resource and athletic departments of the HBCUs this past spring. Some of the coaches may have left since then, so keep in mind this was the compensation for the coach during the 2006-07 academic year. Since the tables are long, we’ll provide football coaches salaries today and basketball next week.

Football

Division I Analysis

Roughly 90 percent of Division I public HBCU football teams, 18 in all, responded to the survey. Based on the data, Southern University’s Pete Richardson was the highest paid Division I head football coach in 2006-07, earning a base salary of $200,000 and an additional $10,000 end-of-year bonus. The lowest paid was Savannah State University’s Theo Lemon at $65,000. The average salary was roughly $133,587, while the median salary was $135,851. Most of the HBCU football teams are in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and Southwestern Athletic Conference.

How do the salaries of head coaches at HBCUs compare to their average counterparts? According to the USA Today 2006 analysis on compensation for Division I college football coaches, the highest paid coach was University of Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz, who received a total compensation package of $2.8 million. Bob Stoops of Oklahoma is now the highest paid coach in Division I at $3.6 million, according to USA Today.

Nearly 35 percent of the Division I football coaches earn well over $1 million or more.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities, NCAA Division I Football, Head Coach Salaries and Compensation for Football, 2006-2007

Source: Diverse: Issues In Higher Education, 2007

Institution

Conference

Coach Name

 Base Salary 

 Bonus

Alabama A&M University (Ala.)

SWAC

Anthony Jones

 $               142,500.00

 $                 13,000.00

Alabama State University (Ala.)

SWAC

Reggie Barlow

 $               144,875.00

 –

Alcorn State University (Miss.)

SWAC

Dr. Johnny Thomas *

 –

 –

Delaware State University (Del.)

MEAC

Al Lavan

 –

 –

Florida A&M University (Fla.)

MEAC

Rubin Carter *

 $               140,000.00

 –

Grambling State University (La.)

SWAC

Rod Broadway

 $               156,000.00

 Bonuses Available for Winning the Conference Championship and the National Black College Championship 

Jackson State University (Miss.)

SWAC

Rick Comegy

 $               161,200.00

 –

Mississippi Valley State University (Miss.)

SWAC

Willie Totten

 $                 92,928.00

 –

Morgan State University (Md.)

MEAC

Donald Hill-Eley

 $               135,122.00

 –

Norfolk State University (Va.)

MEAC

Pete Adrian

 $                 95,000.00

 Winning record: $5,000; Wins MEAC $10,000; For each win in NCAA play-off $10,000

North Carolina A&T State University (N.C.)

MEAC

Lee Fobbs

 $               174,900.00

 –

North Carolina Central University (N.C.)

IND

Mose Rison

 $               120,000.00

Prairie View A&M University (Texas)

SWAC

Henry Frazier, III

 $               127,500.00

 Travel: $4,481.07

Savannah State University (Ga.)

IND

Theo Lemon

 $                 65,000.00

 –

South Carolina State University (S.C.)

MEAC

Oliver “Buddy” Pough

 $               175,000.00

 $                 25,000.00

Southern University, Baton Rouge (La.)

SWAC

Pete Richardson

 $               200,000.00

 $                 10,000.00

Tennessee State University (Tenn.)

OVC

James Webster

 $               136,580.00

 $5000 radio/tv show

Texas Southern University (Texas)

SWAC

Steve Wilson

 $               118,965.00

 –

University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff (Ark.)

SWAC

Merrill Forte

 $               118,000.00

 $                 15,340.00

Winston-Salem State University (N.C.)

MEAC

Kermit Blount

 $               101,000.00

  Built in for academic success/championships (one time amount based on available funds)

Average Salary

 $               133,587.22

* Head Coach No longer at the institution

 

Division II Analysis

Out of the 14 Division II public HBCUs with football teams, 10 provided data on the salaries of their head coaches, a response rate of 71.4 percent. The average Division II HBCU head coach earned a salary of $75,687. The highest paid was Fayetteville State University’s Kenny Phillips at $95,944. The median base income was $79,738.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities, NAIA, NCAA II and III Football, Head Coach Salaries and Compensation for Football, 2006-2007

Source: Diverse: Issues In Higher Education, 2007

Institution

Conference

Coach Name

 Base Salary 

 Bonus

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