Opinion
Eventually Narduzzi Will Need to be Paid
Today Penn State head coach James Franklin became a very rich and secure head coach.
Assuming the reports are accurate, Franklin has signed an extension that will pay him an average of $5.8 million per season.
Penn State September 10, 2016 (Photo credit: David Hague)
Considering the enthusiasm and success (on the field and in recruiting) that he’s had there, the news today wasn’t a huge surprise.
After reading the news, one of the first things that came to mind was how this extension just drove up the future salaries for the college football profession.
The one coach that came to mind was Pat Narduzzi.
Please read the rest of the column before you start sending me responses on why you disagree with this.
I’m not saying Narduzzi’s next salary deserves to be in the range of Franklin’s. Because it doesn’t. What I am saying is that when it comes time to talk extension, Pitt better be prepared to open up the checkbook like they’ve never done before.
The university doesn’t make Narduzzi’s salary public but it’s believed to be in the ballpark of $1.7 to $2 million per season. If I’m Narduzzi’s agent, my price range for next contract is in the $3 to $4 million range.
While some will say he needs to win more than 8 games to earn the big money, keep in mind that Narduzzi’s two-year record is 16-10 while Franklin’s was 14-12. Pitt has lost their two bowl games under Narduzzi, but they have wins over Penn State and the eventual national champion Clemson at Death Valley.
Pittsburgh Panther coach Pat Narduzzi talks to his players.
One other point concerning Narduzzi needing more wins to deserve more money. Look at the salaries of some of these coaches and tell me that they deserve it more than Narduzzi.
- Mike Norvell (Memphis): $1.8 million
- Chris Ash (Rutgers): $2 million
- Matt Campbell (Iowa State): $2 million
- Dave Clawson (Wake Forest): $2.1 million
- Darrell Hazzel (Purdue): $2.1 million
- Dave Doeren (NC State): $2.2 million
- Steve Addazio (Boston College): $2.3 million
- Justin Fuente (Virginia Tech): $3.1 million
- Mark Stoops (Kentucky): $3.5 million
- Will Muschamp (South Carolina): $3 million
Considering Pitt has never paid a football coach more than Todd Graham, the next contract talks could prove to be historic for Pitt.
Right now, they’re doing everything right when it comes to the football program. Recruiting budget, money for assistants, facilities.
All that will be meaningless if when it’s time, they fail to invest in a head coach that appears to be a guy that can take the football program to “the next level.”
Slogans, uniforms, twitter messages are all nice. But what will impress me is when it’s time, Narduzzi gets a salary that’s in-line with what he deserves.
That will show me that Pitt is 100% committed to their football program.
