Back on Jan. 18, Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville received a $500,000 raise to send his salary from $1.5 million to $2 million-per-year through 2015. He was also given a one-year extension on his contract.
Such a raise might seem appropriate for some. Tuberville is an experienced coach, and in his first year, led the Red Raiders to an 8-5 record and a Ticket City Bowl win over Northwestern.
But, that raise has angered some Texas Tech faculty members who have been forced to take a pay freeze for 2011.
To prepare for an 8 percent reduction in state funding for education already in effect this year, Tech officials have cut $3 million in faculty raises.
A faculty senate meeting was held last Wednesday where many faculty members voiced their displeasure with what they felt was a misplacement of funds.
“If that was me, I would have turned it down. I would have been embarrassed,” said one TTU professor.
It should be noted that athletic budgets and academic budgets are not created through the same funding pool. If an academic program sees a cut in funding, it’s not necessarily because a head coach received a raise.
Still, others still insist it’s a matter of principle.
“Regardless of the specifics of the money flow, there’s still a question of the symbolism of what this says about the university’s priorities,” said John Curtis, director of research and public policy for the American Association of University Professors.
“If you’re at a time of cutting academic programs or freezing or cutting salaries for faculty and other employees, and you have a raise for the football coach — even if the money is there — it sends a completely wrong signal about where the priorities of the university are.”
There’s some truth to that statement.
It’s also Division 1 football in the state of Texas and that, to many, is considered a high priority.