Neueheisel, Howland & Guerrero Take Voluntary Paycuts
by Nestor on Jul 31, 2009 5:05 AM PDT
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PrintFrom the LA Times:
With the state -- and their university -- struggling through difficult economic times, UCLA football Coach Rick Neuheisel and basketball Coach Ben Howland have agreed to take pay cuts, a school official said.
Athletic Director Dan Guerrero, who has also agreed to a cut, said the details are still being negotiated but expects that he and the coaches will forgo as much as 10% of their salaries this year.
The three men volunteered to take cuts that were mandated for other state employees even though, because they have multi-year contracts, they were not subject to a reduction.
Neuheisel was hired in December 2007 for $1.25 million a season and incentives that could add $500,000 a year. Howland received salary and incentives last year totaling $2.17 million.
Guerrero recently had his base salary raised to $465,000. Needing to slash his annual budget, the athletic director said he was looking for additional areas to save.
Very smart move on the part of these guys. Not only are they leading by example and they are sending a clear signal of what UCLA means to them. Not just about the money when you are leading UCLA.
GO BRUINS.
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.
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I always assumed that they were part of the furlough plan
I didn’t know people on multi-year contracts were exempt. Glad they’re making the effort. Hope coaches at Cal are doing the same. Because it’s not like they’ll be hurt too bad—the salaries are not the biggest part of their compensation packages, as incentive payments make up the chunk of their annual compensation (don’t know where the Times is coming from saying the opposite—the charts are available for all to see here (Table 3)).
by Westwood Wizard on Jul 31, 2009 5:42 AM PDT reply actions
Since the athletic department takes zero state funding
and is self supporting, why do they have to take pay cuts?
"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"
by silverlakebruin on Jul 31, 2009 6:36 AM PDT reply actions
They don’t have to take paycuts, true. However, IMHO, and as Nestor points out, it’s more about the principle of the matter, in that everybody around them is suffering (as far as the university community in general) . While most of us here know that the athletic budget is self-supporting, they’re still “public employees” and given that, it would look bad if they didn’t.
I agree with Nestor's last point
I think the three of them love what they do so much, money is not an issue.
WOW - I am impressed.
That’s leadership folks!
In related news – Pete Carroll, His Quarterback, and Running back have all agreed to take paycuts to show their support for all public employees currently being furloughed or otherwise affected by the economy.
A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment. John Wooden
nice post
I’m glad to see our coaches handle the economic situation with such class, but let’s be honest…they aren’t exactly hurting (financially) after this kind of pay cut. Although I agree with Nestor and BB200…I’m sure both CBH and CRN would do their jobs for only a fraction of what they get paid.
Go Bruins.
I don't see why it's necessary to add a caveat
Just because they’re still doing relatively well after taking a paycut doesn’t diminish the fact that it was voluntary.
not trying to diminish the act
but that’s the reality of the situation. someone who makes over $1M per year is going to be hurt less by a pay cut than someone who makes $35K. i guess everyone else can just ignore that these guys make buttloads of money, but someone had to say it. if it had been dorrell, i’m sure plenty of people would have brought that up. but because CRN and CBH are well respected I can’t point out an obvious fact?
Go Bruins.
With all due respect
It seems to me that you are. I honestly can’t think of any other reason to really point it out. If I’m missing something here, then I apologize in advance. I suppose we just see the reality of the situation differently. I see three guys who are under no obligation to take a pay cut, take one, in a gesture of solidarity with their colleagues. I also don’t think it’s fair to set up a strawman to prove your point (talking about KD) since there’s no way to test that hypothesis, yet you claim it in your defense anyway. It’d be like me responding that KD would never take a voluntary paycut and therefore CBH, DG, and CRN are even better guys and deserve more praise for doing this.
I guess what I’m getting at is this: Given the fact that the athletic department is self sustaining, what would be an acceptable amount for our coaches to sacrifice in order to satisfy you? 50%? 75%? This isn’t a hypothetical question, BTW, I’d actually like to know.
i see what you're saying
but i don’t see the harm in what i wrote. in fact, i gave them all the credit in the world by acknowledging their class and that they would probably take an even bigger pay cut to continue coaching. if that offends you, then i apologize.
also, i think you’re missing my point re: KD. I think he WOULD have taken the pay cut…and of course we can’t test the hypothesis, but it would not have surprised me if some would point out that he made plenty of money in the first place. a lot of folks were putting KD through the ringer about a lot of stuff before he got fired…that’s all i’m trying to say.
bottom line: what i wrote was a pretty harmless observation and i think you’re just trying to ruffle some feathers. job well done.
Go Bruins.
Uh
Can you show me one example of Karl Dorrell doing something (before he became a head coach) to show his appreciation for UCLA?
Did he come to our games? Did he talk up our tradition? Did he soak up the blue and gold spirit of UCLA?
Karl Dorrell might have been a nice guy but when it comes to showing appreciation of his alma mater he didn’t do much. If he cared he would have moved on as a head coach before completely flushing it down the toilet.
agreed
i just used KD as an example as someone who was not an exemplary coach, yet still would probably have enough decency to take a small paycut during touh economic times.
Go Bruins.
I get that
But I am not that anxious to give somone the benefit of the doubt who played the race card against the School of Jackie Robinson and Arthur Ashe. We have plenty of posts documenting that incident. So I have to disagree with that assumption.
Well if you feel that I'm being antagonistic
Then I’m sorry, that was not my intent. I actually believe KD would have taken a paycut as well, for the record. Problem is that I can’t prove it. I was merely pointing out that your defense isn’t really valid because it’s based on an untestable hypothesis.
As for what you wrote originally, I suppose I’m just not comfortable with the idea that a selfless act like this can open one up to criticism.
sorry if...
…i don’t feel like knighting two millionaires for taking a paycut. there are plenty of people out there taking involuntary paycuts and losing their jobs. and i was not opening up either of them for criticsim, nor did i offer any criticism. i merely pointed out their paycut would not be felt as strongly as someone who made less. it was really more of an observation on the state of our economy…nothing more.
Go Bruins.
No one's knighting anyone
The highest praise in the original post is about these men “leading by example”. Given that I haven’t heard about similar actions from other coaches, this seems like a perfectly legitimate thing to say. If you say you’re just talking about the economy then fine, I’ll leave it at that. I don’t necessarily believe it, but this conversation is no longer constructive.
10% of 1M is 100K
That’s two state employees at 50K a year. I’m sure those two employees are not holding it against them at all.
It’s all about perspective, in this case, where you’re standing makes all the difference in the world.
A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment. John Wooden
Will the other UC employees benefit
Or will the savings stay withing the Athletic Dept’s self-supporting budget?
Just think back to 6 months ago
when the issue was raised with Jim Calhoun and the UConn program. The difference between how he handled the situation and how our coaches handled the situation speak volumes.
They are actually taking paycuts
Most employee unions have refused to do that so instead their employees are getting more time off. Just my guess but I bet CRN and CBH aren’t taking off three days a month because their salary has been lowered
"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"
by silverlakebruin on Jul 31, 2009 11:16 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
Time off = less money
Every UC employee (except those funded 100% by externally-funded contracts or grants) will be making less money next year. Yes, the Regents are negotiating with the unions, but I don’t think there’s any way that represented employees will be exempt.
by Westwood Wizard on Jul 31, 2009 1:54 PM PDT up reply actions
they would get a lot more sympathy from me
If they agree to work a full work schedule rather than demanding time off in exchange.
"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"
by silverlakebruin on Aug 1, 2009 6:05 PM PDT up reply actions
The choices we were given
Pres. Yudof put forward to UC employees three proposals—1) a pay decrease 2) furloughs 3) a combination of a pay decrease and furloughs.
Now, if you were given a choice between more time off for less money, and less money for the same amount of time worked, which would you choose? A significant majority—not just represented employees—chose furloughs with less pay rather than voluntarily agreeing to a reduction in base salary while working the same amount of time.
by Westwood Wizard on Aug 4, 2009 10:09 AM PDT up reply actions
The difference between UCLA and U$C is clear
While the USC headlines scream scandal and impropriety, our beloved alma mater is being recognized for its excellence and humility. Just the past week, there were stories on Coach Wooden, and now classy action from the 3 most visible members of our athletic department. it’s times like this that make me even more proud to be a Bruin.
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