For those who missed it, Utah State University just signed head coach Gary Anderson to his second contract extension in as many years. The move will keep the head coach at the school through 2018, and could pay him up to $765,000 annually. For a full press release on Anderson’s extension, click here.
Just as telling is the extension calls for salary increases for all of Anderson’s assistant coaches.
“This contract will also help us retain quality assistant coaches, which is a very important step as we move forward and into the Mountain West Conference,” Anderson said in the school’s release.
Just some recent history: Utah State hired Anderson the same year New Mexico State hired DeWayne Walker. Both programs were in the same position when the hires were made — flat on their backs. Utah State is really in no different scenario than NMSU — the two have long been conference rivals, and are geographically isolated.
But Utah State made a financial commitment to its football program. Again, look no further than Anderson’s extensions and further compensation for his assistants. Last year, Utah State paid its top-three assitant coaches $157,500 (Dave Baldwin), $151,500 Bill Busch) and $100,000 (Matt Wells). The Aggies top-three assistants made $90,000 (Doug Martin), $70,000 (Dale Lindsey) and $60,970 (R. Todd Littlejohn). The UtAgs have 19 assistant coaches currently listed on its school website. The New Mexico State Aggies have 15.
Meanwhile, the Aggies have had four offensive coordinators in four years and had to hire four new assistant coaches this offseason — new offensive coordinator, new defensive coordinator and new assistants to coach the offensive and defensive lines.
Some of last year’s coaches left because of better job opportunities (offensive coordinator Martin to Boston College, offensive line coach Jason Lenzemeier to UNM) and some were shown the door (defensive coordinator Lindsey who now works at University of San Diego, defensive line coach Jesse Williams who’s now at Ohio). All are missed in some form or fashion, particularly the two coordinators who were very experienced.
Really want to know what’s killing Aggie football this year? Look no further than this type of turnover on the coaching staff.
No matter what happens with Aggie football in the coming years — no matter the president of the school, the athletics director leading the charge or the head coach of the team — NMSU needs to decide if they’re willing to appropriately fund its football program on the Division I level. If not, then drop it down. If you nickel and dime the product, you’ll get nickel and dime results. It's that simple.
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16 comments:
A new AD would be a step in the right direction...
Teddy, you wrapped this up nicely. A D-II team disguised as a D-IA team and of course the results are terrible. Either go big time or admit that we cannot fund D-IA and drop the program down or completely out. It is time to be honest and realistic or lose what few fans and supporters that are left.
"You can't have champagne on a beer budget"...Herm Edwards.
NMSU wants to play D1 on a D2 budget. What you see is what you get.
Step one has been done. A clueless University President. Step Two. Can Boston Mckinley.
The turnover rate for NMSU football is appaling!
How can you gain traction when you go thru 5 OC's in 5yrs!
In the meantime, Couture walks away w/ $450K appaling
Retaining good coaches is huge and can't be done without competitive salaries.
So many other "small" things too. Like trucking gear to away games instead of taking hours both ways to load and unload gear on the airplane. Not only is this a dignity thing in comparison to our competitors, it's also an exhaustion thing for the players who already face grueling travel schedules.
And then there's the lack of funds for a quality strength program staff.
these are things the fan doesn't see, but are so critical; among others.
I agree that NMSU football is in deep trouble and NMSU as whole needs to look at the direction they need to go, but how? Getting rid of the president is a first step and I do believe that the AD will be replaced by the new president, so what? Everybody talks about a need for funding. Where does that come from? Increased donations from boosters and increased attendance at games (football, basketball especially). While I don't agree with the amount paid the outgoing president, that is really a drop in the bucket to the needs of the athletic program (about one year's raise in salary to assistant coaches in the football program). Unless a decision is made to go to D-II football, then additional funding is needed. Are you willing to open up your wallets? Replacing people is not the answer unless other changes are made.
To save money, and the embarrassment of being one of the worst football teams in the FBS, I believe NMSU should adopt a football team with colors similar to its very own. Oklahoma University isn't far off, school color-wise. It has a decent football team that gets to be on TV quite often. It is established in a decent conference, and it gets to a bowl game every year.
On game day, we could wear OU gear, and gather in the stadium to watch OU play the likes of Texas, Notre Dame, and Texas Tech on the jumbo-tron.
We could take half of what we spend now and send it to Oklahoma for the privilege of being OU West. Won't the Miner and Lobo fans be jealous? We'll go bowling every year...
Teddy,
No doubt that Utah St. is a model for building a program.
NMSU is a model for running off coaches ($$) & keeping it in the bottom 10.
Pay up or shut up NMSU!
Unless NMSU has a secret money tree, they simply can't afford to run the program like a D-1 program. Perhaps if Aggie fans actually attended the home games, purchased gear, and made donations to their Alma Mater...things could be different.
Utah State Fans actually show up...(and did so when their team was horrible)
You get what you pay for.
Mckinley Boston has a Phd and didn't know this?!
Couldn't agree more! The team is funded on such a low budget compared to other programs. The fact of the matter is after 50 plus years of a bowl drought, with many different coaches that have all had the same result, you can't blame the coaches we need to look higher. The funding for a Division 1 program just isn't there. Better facilities will mean better recruits and a better team. This school will be built of the base of a good football team, like any other major school. Would students be as interested in going to Boise, Idaho if they didn't have such a successful team? I think not. Fund the team that will produce the most money and the hype around the team will give money to other teams in the program and ultimately build New Mexico State.
no teddy you pumped us full of going bowling and now you say this. no way you made ur bed now lie in it.
Don't recall ever pumping people up with bowl talk. Actually think I was pretty realistic about this year's team. With that being said, I didn't think they'd be this poor.
Lets compare legislative funding for UNM and NMSU athletics. How do you justify the imbalance? UNM facilities are in another world compared to NMSU. Coaches' salaries, too. Shouldn't the funding from state tax dollars be equitable? yet it's not even close. Each school should have the additional responsibility to raise additional outside funds, but there is no justifiable rationale to support unequal funding from the legislature.
Keep in mind that Albuquerque is a lot closer to Santa Fe than is Las Cruces-a BIG reason why UNM has and NMSU has not.It's plain to see who our state leaders want to showcase college football in New Mexico...
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