USA Today article on coaches' salaries

[YB]

III will not stand being successful and not getting paid like it here. We need to get him a commensurate raise.

Increase your HHC donation next year- show him you care!

[Just Cos]

How direct of a tie is there between HHC donations and III's salary? I'm not looking for answers from people that think they know, I want someone that knows. I'm all for giving more to the program, but I want to spearate fact and fiction.

[YB]

All the coaches at GU are paid commensurate to their experience and what the AD can afford. It's pretty simple: If the bball program makes more, JT3 can get paid more. Trust me, Muir wants to keep III. He has said as much: He knows 3 is underpaid and he worries about others stealing him away every night. III has gotten numerous offers from better-heeled schools but turned them down bc he's a classy guy.

But we would be very wise to not take him for granted.

[hoyaLS05]

yb said:

III has gotten numerous offers from better-heeled schools but turned them down bc he's a classy guy.

We know this?

[YB]

Pops and Muir have said as much.

[PopeJohn2]

degoia will take care of jtiii. but for all those who are really concerned, i recommend donating to our alma matter. we could use the money.

[NCHoya]

There is a lot we don't know about this contract, right? There are a lot N/As in that database.

One thought - that document was from JT3's first season in 2004, could there have been additions since then to his contract that the public would not be privy to at a private institution?

I am sure there is private money flowing to III like there is to most public universities' football coaches. There are quite a few well-to-do Hoya boosters who have the ability to keep III whole for while. Also, another contract with deferred compensation doesn't seem unreasonable and we would not know about it. We also know Nike (the Jordan Brand) has a close relationship with Georgetown, who knows if there is something very substantial in it for JT3.

I think we just don't know what is really going down and I would be hard-pressed to believe after that quote from DeGioia that he would let JT3 walk for monetary reasons.

[BSM]

I agree with most of the sentiments--I remember when Pops went out to Oklahoma to have a look around, and we would be foolish to think that JTIII owes us something (although I think being close to family carries some weight with him) but looking at the 990, can someone explain what we have to show for 3.2 million spent on 3 architecture firms?

[tgo]

nchoya said:

Nike (the Jordan Brand)

what does that mean, the jordan brand? is there more than one nike now, i dont get it.

[YB]

All I'm saying in this is, let's not leave this to chance. The nightmare scenario here is we don't donate, the U doesn't pay III, and we wake up one morning to find Big State U just hired him away.

We have the power to change this. Dig a little deeper. Let's keep him here.

[SoCalHoya]

I agree III needs a raise. But, he's a young guy. I think he would rather have an upgrade to our facilities first, so that we can really improve our prospects overall, then bring in more money, so that THEN we can them pay him what he is worth.

At least, that is how I would feel if I were him.

[SirSaxa]

socalhoya said:

I agree III needs a raise. But, he's a young guy. I think he would rather have an upgrade to our facilities first, so that we can really improve our prospects overall, then bring in more money, so we can them pay him what he is worth.

At least, that is how I would feel if I were him.

Hmmmm.... no.... I don't think so.

"You know John, you just finished the season ranked in the Top ten, First time for the Hoyas in EONs. Oh, and you won the BE Conference outright. First time since 1989. And you had the POY. ANd you have two Mickey D AA's coming in next Fall. And everyone associated with GU loves you. IN fact, you are the greatest thing to happen to this University since we hired your dad 35 years ago!

But I was thinking. I could give you a raise -- say a 50% increase next year, and then 10% increases per year for the next 10 years.
OR
I could leave you where you are and put a couple hundred thousand into facilities so we can increase your prospects. Whadda think? HuH? I mean, I know you've got kids to raise, I know you wife had some challenging health issues, I know there are lots of schools who would be happy to double your salary, triple it, hey, even quadruple it to get a total class act who is also enormously successful, but hey... how about one for the old alma mater?"

"What's that? we're not your alma mater? Oh, well if you want to get technical about it I guess. But comeon John. You know we love you. Isn't that enough?"


That is NOT the way we want to handle JT3.
His contribution is already incalculable and we HAVE to take care of him.
I am sure he's getting a lot of dough from NIKE, and probably with a big incentive that will kick in with a TOP ten finish and BE title.

But the UNIVERSITY has to step up and pay him.
AND they have to work on improving the facilities, but not by forcing the coach to forego $$ he rightly deserves.

PAY THE MAN!

[SoCalHoya]

On second thought, you're right. Pay him first, then the assistants, then facilities.

(though I would probably still want to have better facilities first...wasn't that one of the first things III did? Renovate the offices?)

[SFHoya99]

Exactly. I don't care how the University comes up with the money (maybe a few less architects?), but they need to come up with it fast.

Now is not the time to play excuses, put other priorities first or refuse to ask people for money for fear of bothering them. I understand a new science building may be a better priority for a University, but if Thompson leaves, we can't get him back next year; if the science building waits a year, the chance to build it next year will still be there.

[SirSaxa]

I am counting on guys like Pops, Rienzo and Higgins to keep the pressure on DiGioa and Muir to be sure we take care of JT3.

Having just celebrated 100 Years of Hoya Hoops and making a HUGE new effort to reach out to the Hoops Alumni, I can't believe the Admin would NOT be taking care of our #1 basketball asset. I am sure they are. And I bet there are some wealthy alumni who are helping. And probably Nike too.

JT3 is a great coach and he could be successful elsewhere, but at GU he has an aura and a ready built support system for recruiting and for every aspect of the program. There is an unparalleled PR story for him at GU too. It all makes sense for ALL parties. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't pay him what he is worth, or at least a lot closer to what he is worth.

put it this way, is there any coach in the entire country who would be a better fit for GU? who would be as good a fit? Who would come anywhere close to being half as good a fit?? You are right. there isn't.

I sure would like to know that plans are underway to keep him here and keep him happy. SFHoya is right. You can always postpone the new science (or whatever) building for a year. But there's only 1 JT3. We would have a helluva tough time replacing him, for any amount of money.

[jerseyhoya34]

Giving to the HHC is important, but I don't think it is the cure-all for the problem. In other words, telling JT3 that he gets a cut of donations is not the way to go. Say it is a 10% cut, where does that really leave us? We're probably still underpaying him.

SF presented the issue clearly and forcefully. Put simply, the UNIVERSITY has to step up. The University can afford to throw another $1 million into coaches' salaries in the program. The issue is whether they want to do so.

This "everyone for himself" idea to fundraising/priorities is cynical and shameful. More importantly, it isn't working. The FB program may have been first to the gate in this process, and where has it led us? Our "facilities" at the MSF are still in a trailer with curtains over the windows, and we don't have these magical offices that were going to enable us to raize McD. Sadly, my independent review of the website last year leads me to believe that fundraising positions in McD went unfilled for a good part of the academic year, when public attention is focused on our programs. You want to know why the money isn't flowing in the door? Nobody is asking, nobody is there to ask, and it is not being made a priority regardless. I know that because it takes 3 clicks to get to the MSF page for fundraising from GUHoyas.com, and you need to make a call anyway to an unnamed person in the Development Office to pony up. A sad situation indeed.

More importantly, it is no longer enough for people to be worried about JT3 or to make excuses about why we cannot raise funds for certain facilities because other things are already priorities - MSF, science, etc. If the hoops people are saying this already, which facility do you build/make a priority? Furthermore, it is no longer enough for hoops facilities to be a "red meat" issue that receives lip service in public -- it needs to be on the forefront of every discussion about the program in private and every discussion about fundraising and every solicitation in public. I don't care if other people want to raise money for their pet projects. They failed and were given ample time to succeed. Finally, when will someone step up and ask McD to stop its 4th Annual Facilities Review? I think most people have "reviewed" the situation and know we need a new building. These reviews have taken on the appearance of a cynical attempt to delay action. We know what needs to be done, but it is a matter of summoning the will to do it.

I realize this post is largely unpleasant. I don't care. We have waited too long for action.

[SFHoya99]

Jersey, your post is entirely why I laughed when folks were so impressed with JT, Jr.'s words at the 100 Anniversary gala.

Why? Because as much as they all want to talk about stepping up for Thompson or facilities, they hype the crowd, they get everyone going...

No one has specifically asked. If Muir had introduced two new funds -- one an endowment for coaching and one a capital campaign for new facilites, I'd have been impressed. The rest is empty words.

And I know it isn't Muir's fault entirely. This ball lies in DeGioia's court 100%.

[jerseyhoya34]

To be honest, I wouldn't be impressed if we had a coaching endowment or capital campaign for facilities. Why? I don't know how to contribute or even if I can contribute what I can afford.

So, JT2 is on record for new facilities, as is JT3. Who else? Isn't it sad that very few others in the hoops community have gone public with a "let's get this done" attitude? I wonder how many of them stood and applauded when JT2 called for new facilities at the gala. Here we have 2 great coaches, and the fans/supporters are thus far not moved to act.

And to top it all off, this thread will probably be moved anyway as being off-topic.

[hoyaLS05]

Jersey and SF both make good points. Jersey, don't apologize for making an unpleasant post -- its an unpleasant subject, but it needs to be addressed.

I don't pretend to know what the best solution is, but something has to change, and fast. We need to start raising money for facilities and likely, JT3's salary. We were never able to pay Pops what he deserved, and so far we don't pay 3 that much, why do people think that the administration will suddenly wake up/pony up and give JT3 the money he deserves?

That said, I think facilities may be a bigger issue. It's going to be a lot harder to come up with the money for a new arena, or at least a practice facility, than it will be to find a million annually for JT3. The administration, in my (admittedly inexperienced) eyes, needs to start actively and openly campaigning for donations for facilities. They cannot wait for money to come to them, they need to be way more active in pursuing those donors. Am I fully aware of what they are currently doing? No. But the fact that they clearly are not succeeding is proof enough that they are not going about it the right way. It must happen, sooner rather than later.

The scary truth, and I know I'm going to be ridiculed to no end for saying this, is that JT3 is underpaid and coaching in inadequate facilities (that much is obvious), and one of these days, someone like Kentucky or UCLA or Carolina or whoever will come calling. Assuming our current success continues, JT3 is going to be a pretty attractive candidate for a top-notch program in need of new blood. And one of these days, whether its after next year, or in 3 years, or in 5 years, he may very well get fed up with our lack of progress on an arena and his lack of commensurate compensation, and say enough is enough. Based on everything I know, JT3 will not coach here forever just because his dad did.

This discussion can and SHOULD wait until the offseason -- this season is too special to take a backseat -- but it should be raised again then. If the Georgetown community waits too long, I think we could be sorry.

We are where we are right now because of John Thompson III.

[Deleted]

jerseyhoya34 said:

Giving to the HHC is important, but I don't think it is the cure-all for the problem. In other words, telling JT3 that he gets a cut of donations is not the way to go. Say it is a 10% cut, where does that really leave us? We're probably still underpaying him.

SF presented the issue clearly and forcefully. Put simply, the UNIVERSITY has to step up. The University can afford to throw another $1 million into coaches' salaries in the program. The issue is whether they want to do so.

This "everyone for himself" idea to fundraising/priorities is cynical and shameful. More importantly, it isn't working. The FB program may have been first to the gate in this process, and where has it led us? Our "facilities" at the MSF are still in a trailer with curtains over the windows, and we don't have these magical offices that were going to enable us to raize McD. Sadly, my independent review of the website last year leads me to believe that fundraising positions in McD went unfilled for a good part of the academic year, when public attention is focused on our programs. You want to know why the money isn't flowing in the door? Nobody is asking, nobody is there to ask, and it is not being made a priority regardless. I know that because it takes 3 clicks to get to the MSF page for fundraising from GUHoyas.com, and you need to make a call anyway to an unnamed person in the Development Office to pony up. A sad situation indeed.

More importantly, it is no longer enough for people to be worried about JT3 or to make excuses about why we cannot raise funds for certain facilities because other things are already priorities - MSF, science, etc. If the hoops people are saying this already, which facility do you build/make a priority? Furthermore, it is no longer enough for hoops facilities to be a "red meat" issue that receives lip service in public -- it needs to be on the forefront of every discussion about the program in private and every discussion about fundraising and every solicitation in public. I don't care if other people want to raise money for their pet projects. They failed and were given ample time to succeed. Finally, when will someone step up and ask McD to stop its 4th Annual Facilities Review? I think most people have "reviewed" the situation and know we need a new building. These reviews have taken on the appearance of a cynical attempt to delay action. We know what needs to be done, but it is a matter of summoning the will to do it.

I realize this post is largely unpleasant. I don't care. We have waited too long for action.

All money donated to the HHC goes directly into the Athletic Department budget.
So, if the university is going to step up, that's fine. But if Bernard can step up without going to the university, that's a nice option as well.

EDIT: And, in the end.....WE (alums, students, fans, etc) are the university. We are what makes it what it is. And if we want the university to step up, we need to step up.

We say it all the time at games, and we need to remember it ALL the time: WE ARE GEORGETOWN!