OT: A lesson from Nevada HC Chris Ault - accepts 4.8% pay CUT after 13-1 season

Submitted by markusr2007 on

I don't know about you guys, but I have a lot of respect for Nevada HC Chris Ault.

He led Nevada to a 13-1 record last year, a 52-31 defeat of Cal, a 27-13 win at BYU and a 34-31 upset win vs. No. 3 Boise State (remember Kyle Brotzmann missed kick and his "Fffffuuuuuuhhhh!" with chin guard rip down response?)

How many HC's out there would uber-perform and then accept a 4.8% pay cut like the rest of the Univ. of Nevada university employees?

My guess is not many.

Coach Ault personifies humility and teamwork during tough economic times for the state.

Things are far worse in California's economy right now, but I found it nice to read how elsewhere some people are really doing the right things for the greater good of the university, students and others, not just to line their own pockets.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=6679143

 

74polSKA

June 20th, 2011 at 1:51 PM ^

It's good to see men who are willing to stand together with their coworkers instead of thinking they are above them.  The guys in my union would say they would take a pay cut if they made that much money but that's easy to say when you DON'T.  I don't care how much you make, losing 40k a year is a big deal.

74polSKA

June 20th, 2011 at 2:18 PM ^

Public unions take "pay cuts" in states where the senate passes legislation changing how much of your retirement and health insurance you pay.  I'm not complaining, just giving some info.  It's actually forcing some people that should have retired years ago to finally leave.

MGlobules

June 20th, 2011 at 6:44 PM ^

why this should be downvoted. I mean, I know that often when you get downvoted that means your message has gotten THROUGH, and rankled. But as a matter of principle, as a Michigan Man (Mouse? Woman?) you should be obliged to respond with facts, or at least something clever, rather than just try to shut down the conversation. Nursery school, not college kinda lesson.

P.S. I am a union man who has seen pay cuts; my uncle worked for the UAW, and saw them too. I really did--I think--state the facts straightforwardly. It was the poster who probably shoulda been shut down for being political. 

Too bad we can't see who downvotes, as at some sites. That would stop some abuse. 

MGlobules

June 21st, 2011 at 10:18 AM ^

said unions didn't take pay cuts. I just responded that this was not the case. Your graph--to many people--would suggest there was some value in joining, btw.

MGlobules

June 21st, 2011 at 10:17 AM ^

but the OP made an assertion that was factually incorrect, easily verified, and I pointedly made no political response but pointed out that he was wrong. Sometimes people just don't like the news, so they hide rate the messenger--human nature. Hope you are well, M-Woverine. 

M-Wolverine

June 21st, 2011 at 4:48 PM ^

About anything that even leans towards, sounds like, or goads political discussion. Political points can be factual too, not always opinion. It's probably overkill (though it seems your points balanced out now that I can see them), but it serves to dissuade things steering in that direction, because besides being out of place here, it can never help but being painful. I mean CC stuff is nothing compared to politics.

ChasingRabbits

June 20th, 2011 at 3:44 PM ^

you do know that there are other unions other than the UAW...   right?   ummm...  ask teacher's Unions country wide if there is no such thing as union pay cuts...  maybe they should move all the teachers too.

yoopergoblue

June 20th, 2011 at 1:53 PM ^

I applaud him for doing this.  He is probably very well respected among his fellow university employees for taking the cut just like everyone else has had to do.  

justingoblue

June 20th, 2011 at 2:20 PM ^

I like his response here. Honestly, if I were Calhoun or Brady Hoke it would be my response as well.

Whether Nevada football makes money or not is another story. If not, he's no different than the other employees at Nevada (the ones in net loss or break even departments), in which case props to him for the solidarity.

MGlobules

June 20th, 2011 at 3:38 PM ^

who not only hasn't had a raise in five years but just saw our pensions cut, any feelings of solidarity that I have are not with 3 million dollar coaches, much as a may like them (have always liked Calhoun).

You shoulda been here at FSU the week that they asked everyone to screw the lightbulbs out of their ceilings to save electricity. Same week Bobby Bowden got a million dollar bonus. Argument was that he made money for the U, too. 

markusr2007

June 20th, 2011 at 2:32 PM ^

$23.2 million operating revenues versus $24 million in operating costs.

$3.1 million in ticket sales vs. $4.5 million in staff salaries and bonuses

Plus, when you know there is no way in hell the state of Nevada and the federal govt can keep contributing $5.85 million in contributions, yeah, you're going to want to slim things down considerably somewhere I guess.

I'm not sure about Michigan, but in California a lot of state universities (UC system) have all but eliminated many summer courses this year. A lot of people are pissed off.

Datasource: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/ncaa-finances.htm

jmblue

June 20th, 2011 at 3:48 PM ^

Things are far worse in California's economy right now

Nevada's economy is down there with California's. (Nevada depends to a significant extend on Californians coming over and spending a lot of tourism dollars.)

StephenRKass

June 20th, 2011 at 4:06 PM ^

I really love this as a picture of leadership and influence. Ault earned some big time chits with that move. And I'll bet it doesn't really matter to him. The best people, whether athletes, coaches, CEOs, professors, businessmen, aren't doing it for the money. Sure, the money is nice, but it isn't the be all and end all. Money is just a marker showing that others approve of what you're doing.

Doing the right thing for the right reasons for the greater good of others is a huge mark of maturity.

This is in marked contrast to Tressel. It galls me to no end that Tressel wrote a book on principles of success and acted in the way he did. Tressel's hypocrisy just opens the door for him to be mocked and abused, and to deserve it. Having personal integrity and acting in the right way (rather than just talking about it) is huge. A tip of the hat to Ault.

markusr2007

June 20th, 2011 at 5:36 PM ^

from the brunt of the housing market bubble and crash. Parts of the state of Cal haven't even seen real price corrections yet, so they're just starting to witness the dee-struction.  At least Nevada (and LV) are making their way out of that and showing some progress.

Welp, on to the next embarrassing economic failure and speculative financial bubble which will bankrupt states further: Yay, education loans!!!!!