Goodbye, Farewell and Amen - Kent Austin leaves the Saskatchewan Roughriders

[Northern Piper]

{{{Sigh}}}

So after one year as head coach, leading the Saskatchewan Roughriders to their first Grey Cup in 18 years, Kent Austin is leaving to take up the position of offensive co-ordinator at Ole Miss.

It's understandable - much closer to his family in Tennessee, plus Ole Miss is where he started his playing career as QB, and the potential to move into coaching at the college level.

Thanks, Kent, and best wishes for you and your family.

But still, {{{sigh}}}.

Rider Nation Says Losing Coach "Sucks", but OK (http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/sports/story.html?id=fcbeb534-a857-4636-b666-b819852ee156)

[bordelond]

Sorry to hear it. I wouldn't have expected that the U.S. college ranks would poach the CFL ranks for coaching talent. Maybe this kind of thing happens more often than I realize.

Out of curiosity, and in realization that this wasn't the only factor: what is the salary difference, roughly, between college OC and CFL head coach?

[JohnT]

College Football salaries (sample):

Alabama Head Coach = $900k extended 2010
Alabama DEF Coordinator = $240k extended 2007
Alabama OFF Coordinator = $217k extended 2007
LSU OFF Coordinator = $400k
Arkansas DEF Coordinator = $330k
Texas OFF Coordinator = $295k
USC OFF Coordinator = $500k

Cite: http://www.sectalk.com/boards/sec-football-talk/5656-head-coach-coordinator-salaries.html

One CFL team, the Tiger-Cats (?) pays their head coach $300,000/year: http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Hamilton/2008/01/13/4770681-cp.html

[Northern Piper]

It's not the money, apparently. The Riders management offered him more money than Ole Miss is going to pay him, as outlined in this article (http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/sports/roughriders/story.html?id=8f7ee444-a5a4-492f-9e20-3b6b5ffc0169&k=78303):
The ties to home were so strong that Austin turned down a contract extension that would have made him one of the highest paid coaches in the CFL. It's believed that with incentives and bonuses, Austin would have earned $450,000 after the 2008 season. Austin's contract with Ole Miss is still being worked out but it's believed he'll earn $350,000.

"I don't make decisions based on money,'' said Austin, who guided the Roughriders to a 12-6 second-place record in the West Division and a 23-19 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Grey Cup. "The money is important, I get that, but if it was about the money I'd be staying here.''

Tillman said the Roughriders offered Austin a "tremendous deal" to return in 2008.

When Tillman was asked if he had done everything he could to keep him in Regina, Austin answered.

"Absolutely,'' said Austin, the team's 26th head coach. "What they presented to me was an unbelievable offer to stay. I was appreciative of that and I probably didn't deserve it, but it wasn't based on money.''

So, he's turning down about $100,000 to take the Ole Miss job.

[bordelond]

College Football salaries (sample):

Alabama Head Coach = $900k extended 2010
Alabama DEF Coordinator = $240k extended 2007
Alabama OFF Coordinator = $217k extended 2007
LSU OFF Coordinator = $400k
Arkansas DEF Coordinator = $330k
Texas OFF Coordinator = $295k
USC OFF Coordinator = $500k

Cite: http://www.sectalk.com/boards/sec-football-talk/5656-head-coach-coordinator-salaries.html

That cite is going on three years old, but the numbers are telling.

Alabama's HC now is Nick Saban, who is making multi-millions per year.