 Marc MorehouseHi, I'm Marc Morehouse. I've covered sports for more than 15 years, mostly in Eastern Iowa. I've had Hayden Fry [...] |
|
Email the author
‘Bigger picture, full body of work’
Barta was glad when he signed Ferentz's deal in '10, would do it again
University of Iowa Head Footaball Coach Kirk Ferentz sits with UI Athletics Directory Gary Barta as he talks with members of the media about the recent off the field legal issues that members of the football team have been involved in as well as social networking sites such as Facebook and Myspace Friday, Aug. 24, 2007 at the Hayden Fry Football Complex in Iowa City.
IOWA CITY — When Gary Barta negotiated Kirk Ferentz’s current contract, the Iowa football coach had just come off a No. 7 finish, an 11-2 season and an Orange Bowl victory.
Things were good. Iowa football had most of the important pieces return for another run at the Big Ten title in 2010. You know that didn’t happen. The Hawkeyes skidded to an 8-5 finish, 7-6 last season and now sit .500 going into this weekend’s game at Indiana.
Barta, Iowa’s athletics director since 2006, knew what he was getting Ferentz. He rewarded the coach for past performance as much as he also bought into the future, which, of course, was a complete unknown when Ferentz’s current contract, which will pay him $3.7 million this year in annual guaranteed compensation and escalates to $3.875 million through 2020, was signed in August 2010.
Today, Barta still feels good about that signature.
“When you sit down with a coach, you take a look at their body of work,” Barta said. “There are different environments that you’re evaluating. In Kirk’s case, back in 2009, I think we finished seventh in the country. If you look what he had done competitively, academically, value, integrity and fit, all of those things, obviously I put together a package that I felt fit the person and the situation.
“Glad I did it and still glad I did it.”
The state of Iowa salary data was released Thursday afternoon. For at least the seventh consecutive year, Ferentz was No. 1 on the list of 60,000 state employees with an annual salary of $3.725 million for fiscal 2012. No state tax money is used in Ferentz’s salary, Barta pointed out.
The Hawkeyes are 4-4 (2-2 Big Ten) going into today’s game at Indiana (3-5, 1-3). That record doesn’t sit well with most fans, and within vocal pockets on the internet and on the radio, Ferentz’s salary doesn’t add up to 4-4.
Todd Brommelkamp, co-host of the afternoon sports talk show “Balbinot & Brommelkamp” on KGYM AM 1600 in Cedar Rapids, said the topic has come up a few times this fall, but not as much as he thought it might.
Ferentz, 57, hears the “noise” outside of the program. He knows the salary makes him a bullseye.
“That’s sports,” he said. “People are going to talk about anything, whether it’s going good, bad or indifferent. If you’re involved in it, you’d better [be ready to hear about it].
“We all like riding in parades. It’s a lot more fun, but when you do things competitively, it’s going to go both ways. What you need to focus on is what’s in front of you, and try to make it go the right way.”
Here are some factors to consider before you hit send on that tweet or e-mail or dial the Ferentz radio show and fire off an on-air missile.
– You’re still filling up Kinnick Stadium.
Iowa is on a run of 23 straight sell outs, including the five games this season. Iowa’s last non-sellout at home was 67,989 for the Arkansas State game on Oct. 3, 2009.
This feeds into the next factoid.
– Kirk Ferentz, who won his 100th game as Iowa’s coach at Michigan State on Oct. 13, has been good for business.
For fiscal year 2011, Iowa football ranked sixth in the Big Ten in revenue with $44,503,833, just behind Michigan State and just ahead of Wisconsin. Ohio State was No. 1 at $79 million, $9 million ahead of No. 2 Michigan.
This figure includes ticket sales, direct program contributions and TV/media rights. Iowa made $26.6 million in athletics contributions in ’11, with $7.3 million directed exclusively to football. Football expenses are a little more than $20.5 million, which is fourth in the Big Ten.
Conversely, Iowa/Ferentz was No. 1 in the league in head coach compensation, with Ferentz’s total package coming in at $4.3 million. This was before Ohio State hired Urban Meyer ($4 million in salary a year) and Michigan brought in Brady Hoke ($3.254 million).
“I’ve been in college football for 30 years, as a player, as an administrator, so I’ve been around a lot of football coaches,” Barta said. “Kirk Ferentz has every ingredient of a football coach who fits at Iowa and who I want to work with and who can lead our program.
“So, do I feel great about the coach we have leading our program? Absolutely. Am I pleased we’ve lost two in a row? No, of course not, but it’s a bigger-picture question and a longer-term viewpoint.”
– There’s all that math and then there’s “marginal revenue product,” which is basically how much revenue a coach generates for his school.
You’re buying tickets, you’re buying jerseys and gear. The Big Ten Network/ESPN/ABC throws each Big Ten school around $20 million. You also donate.
Iowa made $44 million in ’11 and paid Ferentz $4.3 million. That’s a maximizing investment for Iowa and it has kept the school from dropping any of its 22 varsity sports.
– In 2010, there was a market for Ferentz’s services.
Last year, Ferentz’s name was connected to the Kansas City Chiefs because of his friend, Scott Pioli, being named general manager. Barta said other schools looked into Ferentz, but didn’t specify.
“I knew there were programs that were interested in him,” Barta said. “All those played a factor, but not the most important factor. The most important factor is do we have the guy who I believe, we believe, has led this program and will continue to lead this program in the future?
“The answer to that question was yes. So then, we put his package together. The most important factor is is this the person who I believe can best run this program? It’s my decision, absolutely. [And] I’m a leader, so of course I’m vested.”
– The highest salary doesn’t equal wins.
From 2001 to 2010, Iowa was No. 3 in the Big Ten in winning percentage behind Ohio State (.828) and Wisconsin (.682). Iowa (.674) was basically tied with the UW. That’s ahead of Penn State and Michigan, which were in the .630 range.
Partly for this, Barta deemed Ferentz worthy of being the sixth highest-paid coach in the country with a buyout of more than $21 million ($250,000 a month through 2020). Remember, Barta compared it to a lifetime deal when it was signed in 2010.
“The 10 years is as strong of a statement as anything,” Barta said in ’10. “It’s a long commitment, which is something I wouldn’t be comfortable with for a lot of coaches, but with someone like Kirk Ferentz, I’m comfortable with. And he’s marketable in the NFL, he’s marketable at other schools on the BCS level. It’s definitely a marketplace equitable contract.”
The money hasn’t changed Ferentz. The record won’t, either. regardless of today’s outcome.
“You have beliefs in what you do, and you try to be as smart as you can,” Ferentz said. “Anybody who makes decisions isn’t going to be 100 percent, especially regarding people, it’s impossible to be 100 percent.
“So, you do what you think’s best, and you try to approach things in a smart way, and then you go. The process is always taking care of things . . . I grew up in Pittsburgh where they still believe in stability, and they address issues rather than throwing people off the boat.”
In that regard, Barta, who said he hears as many positives on Ferentz as he hears complaints, is perfectly fine with who’s steering the boat.
That contract is the strongest statement Barta can make.
“You take a look at who you have, what the marketplace is and then you evaluate what you want to do in terms of a contract,” Barta said. “When I think of Kirk, I think of someone who has a great track record, someone who’s proven at Iowa he can win, who’s proven he fits the value system and the integrity.
“So, when you sit down with Kirk several years ago, you put down a contract, you factor all those things in, you look at it from a long-term viewpoint — not this week or last week — but bigger picture and full body of work.”
-u20042.png?1366232523)
Suspected abductor of Webster County girls found dead; search on for missing girl
Oklahoma tornado death toll currently 24, not 51, medical examiner says
Iowa City debates whether police officers belong in schools
Linn County casino campaign cost $3.43 million, final figures reveal
Interactive: Shelter from the storm
And, I voted for Obama……but he only got a 4 year contract….And there is no buy out !!!!
This contract may make Kirk all but untouchable for its duration, and I would certainly agree that it does, but it may very well be the thing that gets Barta shown the door. This deal is so ridiculously one-sided that Barta better pray that things turn around quickly, otherwise he will have supplied the rope for his own noose.
Come on are you comparing KF to Obama? KF hasn’t had that bad of a season!!! At least he’s making the University money instead of putting it in debt.
“Iowa made $44 million in ’11 and paid Ferentz $4.3 million. That’s a maximizing investment for Iowa and it has kept the school from dropping any of its 22 varsity sports.”
That says it all. Those that micro in on Ferentz and his contract should re-read the about paragraph. Do we want to drop other sports programs? Does the Atheletic Dept run in the red?
If you buy into this example (which is a guess) on my part. Let’s add in 12 other coaches/support staff at least say an average number of $500,000 per year and I think that is a little high. Another $6m * $4.4=$10.4. That is around 25% in labor from revenue. That is pretty good for a company.
What I want is to win. Spell that W-I-N. Anybody ever hear of THAT goal in college ball?
Also, has anyone asked what the winning programs like Alabama and Oregon are bringing in to THEIR universities? My bet is that it is one hell of a lot more than Iowa does because of th national exposure they have earned, and the marketing possibilities of being an elite program. When did you last see an Iowa jersey for sale at Foot Locker in Biloxi, Mississippi? You can bet Alabama, Notre Dame and Michigan have them there. I know, because I have seen it. Those schools are national brands. Iowa… not so much. Winning did this for them. Nothing else.
As a paperwork exercise, Tom’s comments work, I suppose, and I am sure that the apologists are happy with it. Fine. A lot of us, especially those who live outside the eastern Iowa denial zone, are not. There is no amount of money in the world that will take away the sting of an unnecessary loss to the likes of Central Michigan, and we are a long way from “all the money in the world”. The most profitable and satisfying scenario is always to win. Spell that W-I-N.
KF is overpaid. Dress it up any way you like, but he is still being paid disproportionately to the product he is giving us, which is a football team that barely scrapes above .500 most years. 2002 and 2009 were anomalies, and we all know it. Body of work, indeed. Win. W-I-N. How hard is that to understand?
I’m not a KF supporter at all. I have several names for him and his punt inside the 40 style, but you cannot compare us to Bama or Oregon. In Oregon it is leagal to grow your own pot so they have us beat and the top SEC teams will always be better than us. We are just stuck paying KF as if we were. As long as the KF supporters keep pointing to a B1G championship from 10 years ago they will always think they are right.
Yall just need to stop going to the games and stop dumping $$ into the program if there is changes to be made. Thats never going to happen, so he stays……..forever
The fans and the supporters make the profit.And we deserve more than, well!! it is another rebuilding year…….If he was coaching anywhere else where it wasnt a only sport state, he would be gone, So, get it going or get going……..
The disconnect of Mr Barta from reality is very telling. No other program in the country makes these kind of offers to a coach not even the ones constantly in the top five in the country. So Mr Barta would have us beleive that he is smarter then every other AD in the country. These programs are making big money and winning. The revenue the football program makes comes from the fans who spend their money. How long should they pay for a Porsche while driving a Ford? I think the worst part is that when things don’t work and you refuse to try anything new, your shortening your players and their confidence in your coaching desire to win.
I don’t know what’s more pathetic to see on these types of comment boards–those who think they actually know how to coach a football team BETTER than Kirk Ferentz…or those who think the sky is falling in when Iowa football is having a down season.
This isn’t NCAA Football 2K3 for your Xbox, folks. 10 win or better seasons are the exception, not the rule for most major college football teams.
Even the the “name” schools have gone through down periods.. .Michigan, Florida State, Miami, Auburn just won a National Championship TWO years ago..and their record this year? 1-7.
Georgia Tech (the team Iowa defeated in the Orange Bowl two years ago)–their record right now? 3-5.
People need to wake up and realize that Iowa isn’t going to win 10 games every season and make it to a BCS bowl. You’re going to have years where for whatever reason..injuries, players not playing up to potential, departures, etc..all play a role into a team not performing.
Doesn’t mean that the coach is bad. Doesn’t mean the system they play in is bad. If that was the case–Iowa wouldn’t have experienced the kind of success under Ferentz that they’ve had.
Tom:
You posted these same condescending lines last week too. Posting them multiple times doesn’t make them any truer or more credible. If you want to accept Iowa as an occasional powerhouse that occasionally can beat the “Big boys”, that’s your prerogative. If you’re OK with getting beaten fairly regularly by the NW’s, CMU’s, WMU’s and being an UNDERDOG to Indiana on the football field – then that’s fine too. If you feel only football coaches are capable of understanding the game of football – and fans can only understand Xbox and Playstation – well, that’s your choice too, uninformed as it may be.
To sit and post the same condescending lines on multiple articles as if you are speaking from a higher level of thinking of intelligence and understanding? Well, that there’s funny, I don’t care who ya are!
Sorry, I meant “Todd”, not Tom. “Todd” is the one using his same lines over and over with decreasing effectiveness….(as if they were effective in the first place!)
I agree with what Mike says, plus what everyone seems to forget is we are bad, not because players are not playing to their potential, they have little potential. Yes we have pick up some diamonds in the rough, but we cannot have a team of “rough” and expect much in return. For every Bob Sanders (2 star recruit that no one had offered but us) there are 25 guiys that do nothing. Look at the recruiting ranks over the last 3-4 years. Bottom of the big ten almost acroos the board. We lost our top recruit for this year when he backed out to go to Indiana. The next several years are not going to get better. We will be lucky to play in a bowl game in the next 2 years when we do not get to skip OSU.
Actually recruiting has been good the last 3 classes. 6th 4th and 6th in the b10. It’s a combo of the 08-09 classes being poor and attrition being horrendous. The thing I don’t like is they like to sell those that left as bad seeds or injury related. Well they need to be better at their screening process or be more tolerant when they come aboard. Too many players have left to tell me it’s just a fluke.
Todd said:
“Doesn’t mean that the coach is bad. Doesn’t mean the system they play in is bad. If that was the case–Iowa wouldn’t have experienced the kind of success under Ferentz that they’ve had.”
It wasn’t always “bad” – it just hasn’t been very effective most seasons since 2004 = the end of the 3 years where it “hummed”. Including 2005 through this season, only TWO season would be considered good or great. Two. Out of eight. That’s it. I enjoyed 02-04 and 08-09 as much as anyone, but that’s just over 1/3 the seasons that KF has run his program at Iowa. Whenever he’s asked for improvements he’s gotten them; the fans have ALWAYS been there at the stadium and in the checkout lines (in-store and online); the donors have been beyond generous. The program has not “gone without” ANYTHING except annual balmy winters.
So if you’re happy with mediocre to average production on the field, that’s fine. Others aren’t – and it doesn’t make them stupid, immature or irrational; well, at least any dumber, childish or less rational than the “loyal” Hawkeye fans who would support any coach with as little accountability and performance standards as KF possesses.
Mike..
Once again, you demonstrate the EXACT attitude that I’m talking about. You and others on message boards like this are Iowa “fans” who go completely apoplectic when Iowa has a down year or two.
Here’s the reality—you’re going to moan and complain, no matter if Iowa wins or loses..because as the wizards of smart–nothing Ferentz or the Iowa program does will ever been good enough for you.
If Iowa goes 8-4–people will moan and complain that Iowa should have been 11-1 and that Ferentz is paid too much, etc, etc. etc…
If Iowa goes 7-6 people moan and complain that Iowa should have been 11-1 and that Ferentz is paid too much, the entire staff should be fired…etc..etc. etc…
The drumbeat never changes from people like you Mr. Miller.
Todd:
Here’s a hint: there wasn’t even a single tap of a drumbeat until 2007. Then the end of 2008 through 2009 happened without a sound. Once 2010 – and the incredibly silly on-field playing and coaching mistakes began glaring in earnest and haven’t stopped since. Throw in recruiting misjudgments, attrition and continued questionable coaching strategization = and here we are.
I have to ask you Todd – may I call you Kevin? You remind me of Kevin Bacon at the end of Animal House on the sidewalk: “All is well. All is WEELLLL!!!!” You know that part of the movie, don’t you, where Kevin and reality collide? Judging by your comments you do…
That’s the BEST you’ve got? A stupid reference to Animal House?
Again..you continue to prove my point: No matter how good or bad Iowa does on the football field–there are serial complainers like yourself who think they know how to coach this team better than Kirk Ferentz and his staff.
There are serial complainers like yourself and others who always shout from the rooftops anytime Iowa loses because in your delusional minds–Iowa should never have down years.. If Iowa isn’t in a BCS bowl–then the coaches are doing a terrible job, blah blah…
If you think that you know so much better than Ferentz does..by all means..go submit your resume to Gary Barta.
I’m sure he could use a good laugh when you put down your experience as: “Regular commenter on Internet boards” and “Led Iowa to a National Championship on NCAA 2K3 on my XBox”
Ahh, Mr. Johnson:
If undying trust, love and adoration of all things Ferentz is what you need to believe to get through each day – then you are absolutely welcome to do so (it’s glaringly apparent you’ve completely missed the boat that others here who wish/demand more of the head coach also love the Iowa PROGRAM – but you’re too busy defending KF’s honor to notice). But there are others that question that utopian image that folks like yourself have of the program and want something better – as has been done in the past by this very same coach – a number of years ago. If all you can do is call people names throw in the 3rd grade-equivalent retort of “if you’re so smart, why don’t YOU coach?”, then perhaps you should avoid such discussions. They obviously upset you, and for someone of your life experience and obvious high level of maturity, it’s probably not a healthy thing for you to face reality – at least as it pertains to Iowa football.
The most pathetic thing is people not respecting other people’s right to an opinion. I haven’t seen any post saying anyone expected 10 win seasons or that they could coach better then Ferentz! Please provide a reference for your comment. All novices please keep your thoughts to yourself so the experts can inform us of all matters!
Talking about Kirk Ferentz and his high salary and long term contract are academic at this point. So why complain about this at this point? What is done … is done! If the program does not turn around and at least show some improvement next year, then the University President has more than enough reasons to fire Gary Barta. Whether she will fire him is another question.
What should be discussed (and appropriate action taken by Kirk Ferentz) is what needs to happen to the Iowa football program to turn it around.
I am a loyal fan and have attended Iowa football games for over 30 years and am a financial supporter of the University and the athletic department. I have seen and lived thru the many ups and downs (mostly downs) of the football and basketball program.
I have read and heard many comments from people regarding the problems and what needs to change. What is important is whether or not Kirk Ferentz has identified the problems and is willing to make changes. If the answer is yes, then that will result in improvement in the product that he is putting on the field. If no, then the program will continue to slide downward or remain at a low level of competitiveness. It is just that simple.
Here are just a few of the obvious areas of concern recognized by many:
1. Recruitment and retention of quality, talented athletes (at least a few 4 star and 5 star athletes). I think that Iowa’s 2008 and 2009 recruiting classes (current juniors and seniors) were ranked near the bottom of the Big Ten, and a number of those players are gone from the program . I think that I read somewhere that Iowa’s player turnover (other than those who graduate and /or turn pro early) is one of the highest in the Big Ten, if not the country.
2. A new offensive coordinator who can adapt his system and schemes to the talent and strengths of his players. A coordinator who can be creative and unpredictable in terms of play calling. A coordinator who can get the plays called and communicated to the players to avoid simple things like delay of game penalties (or avoiding delay of game by using time outs. Or else let the quarterback call the plays if they are not communicated with a least 20 seconds left on the play clock. Greg Davis was fired from Texas for a reason, and it was not for a lack of talent. Kirk Ferentz has recently stated that he supports his coaches (including Davis) 100% which means an Iowa coach will leave only for another opportunity or retirement. Time will tell whether or not Kirk’s coaching philosophy and unwavering support for Davis and his other coaches will lead to further/continued demise of the football program.
There are many other issues too numerous to mention here.
In the meantime, I will continue to attend and support Iowa football, but with significantly lower expectations.
No finger pointing today by me just a comment. Iowa my not be a national name, its the only school I want to see win (except for whoever plays notre dame and nebraska) but a friend of mine went to Ireland to watch notre dame and ran into a couple who had on Tiger Hawk clothes. Also do you guys and gals ever watch game day on ESPN? Most of the time if you look in the back ground you will see a Iowa flag flying. Just saying.
GO HAWKS! Hope we don’t have to complain after Saturday.
What folks need to realize is that the Athletic Director’s priorities are different than yours. I’d rate those in order as: 1.) Revenue, 2.) Graduation, 3.) Lack of off-field issues. The latter two could be referred to as “relationship with the university” and “relationship with the community” as well. Believe it or not, compared to the rest of the country, Iowa’s Athletic Department is very successful.
As this article points out, Ferentz brings in the revenue like nobody’s business. He maintains the third best graduation rate in the Big Ten behind Northwestern (duh) and Penn State (let’s see how that holds up…). Only one SEC program (Vanderbilt, duh), one PAC-12 program (Standford, duh) and NO Big 12 programs have a GSR that good. Finally, Ferentz runs a clean program with no major NCAA violations and few serious off-field issues.
My point is (and it’s the one Marc’s been making for weeks), if you want to get the AD to listen to you, you have to speak his language. That language is $$$, not screeching about scheme on a comment thread. That having been said, I don’t think the football team is quite at the point where it warrants a boycott.
And for the record, in my opinion a down year for Iowa should be a 6-6 or 7-5 record. We should average 8-4 or 9-3. We should win the Big Ten 1.5 times per decade, resulting in one Rose Bowl trip per decade as well. I would assume this would require a 10-2 or 11-1 record. Undefeated seasons are a lot to ask for from any team (even Alabama).