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Hawkins wants contracts for CU assistants
Law would have to change to get long-term deals
Colorado coach Dan Hawkins is not one to shy away from a challenge. Now that he's armed with a signed contract extension through 2012, he has an eye set on changing state law.
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Hawkins wants to be able to offer his assistant coaches long-term contracts. State law currently allows each college or university only six such deals, and they are generally used for head coaches and high level administrators such as presidents, chancellors and athletic directors.
The state legislature would have to approve any change to the status quo, but Hawkins believes CU should lead the charge toward getting it done because long-term deals for assistants are becoming the norm in major college football.
"I believe as we continue to get better, our guys are going to get preyed upon a lot, and that's going to make it very tough for me," Hawkins said.
Hawkins said in the past two offseasons several of his assistant coaches have been approached by other schools with job offers. The only change made in his staff since he came to Boulder in 2006 was former offensive line coach Chris Strausser returning to Boise State after one season with the Buffs.
CU assistants work as at-will employees now. Keeping assistants in Boulder has been a problem at CU for years. The past offseason was the first since 1989 that the CU football coaching staff remained completely intact from one year to the next without losing at least one member.
"I think everybody is doing what they can," Hawkins said. "I think functionally at the higher level, we need to be able to change things so that these guys can be on multi-year contracts, and then we're able to work toward some equity with the rest of the conference because we did a good job of staving off the wolves."
Athletic director Mike Bohn said he agrees with Hawkins and will work toward building a consensus for the change. Bohn said he believes the law can be changed through the right approach.
Bohn pointed to the top three teams in the Big 12 this year -- Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas, all three of which are ranked in the top five in the nation -- as examples of what continuity and longevity in a coaching staff does for a program.
Mack Brown has been coaching at Texas for 11 years. Bob Stoops has been at OU for 10 years and Gary Pinkel and his entire assistant coaching staff have been at Missouri for eight years.
"What's the constant there?" Bohn asked. "Length of service and keeping their staff. So the key is, when you get a great one and you have a staff that is working well together, you want to keep them together."
In announcing the terms of Hawkins extension, which was approved by the Board of Regents back in June, Bohn praised Hawkins for his work building relationships across the campus.
"Dan has brought respectability and pride back to CU, really at a time when that was much needed," Bohn said.
As previously reported, Hawkins' new contract gives him a modest raise in base pay each year but adds considerable bonus money earned by achieving incentives. It is the contract model the athletic department adopted in the wake of having to shell out nearly $4 million to part ways with former football coach Gary Barnett in 2005.
Hawkins base compensation package will pay him $951,720 this year before incentives. He is likely to make closer to $1.2 million when incentives for student athlete academic performance, student athlete welfare and development and outreach efforts are added in.
Several new incentives were added to Hawkins deal, including a $50,000 bonus for winning seven games, a $25,000 bonus for winning eight games, a $50,000 bonus for being named national coach of the year and a $25,000 bonus for earning the Big 12 Conference coach of the year award.
Bohn said if Hawkins was to earn every incentive in his deal, which would require winning the Big 12 and national titles, he could earn as much as $2.5 million in one season.
Some believe coaches such as Hawkins to be overpaid, but the deal keeps him as the ninth-highest paid coach in the Big 12 if his three primary incentives are included and approximately the 50th-highest paid in the nation.
"Everybody always seems to worry about that more than I do," Hawkins said of getting the extension done. "The way I was raised, you've got to show up and put your boots on and go to work every day. That's how you put food on the table."
Hawkins has produced a 10-19 record in nearly 2½ seasons on the job, but he has done enough off the field in the eyes of his bosses to merit more time in trying to get the product right between the lines.
Posted by JAWS on October 8, 2008 at 12:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I definitely see the program heading in the right direction ... Hawkins and crew have inherited a 'murderous' schedule - which he likes even though it doesn't guarantee immediate success. he has recruited well and, unfortunately, had a huge spout of bad luck as far as injuries go. I'd love foe us to be 5-0 right now... In reality we should be 4-1 and there would be a lot less nay-sayers on this board that will show up later like nepa, fish, whos, etc... Shut up to all of you and go cuddle with Barnett and fall asleep under the stars that make a nice 70-3 shape. This program is on the rise!!!!
Posted by rnorthro14 on October 8, 2008 at 5:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Agreed. This state law originally introduced by a corrupt slum lord in Douglas Bruce should be changed. CU has a good pulpit from which to lead the charge. I will definitely support this lead.
Posted by vkberlinn on October 8, 2008 at 5:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Before that the Hawk needs to get the LB coaches salary raised to the level of the H.
It is a joke hawk a frigging joke.
Posted by zonabuff on October 8, 2008 at 6:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree we're on the rise and decimated by injuries and suspensions. But I don't understand why we "should" be 4-1. Florida State took advantage of our mistakes, ran all over us, and kicked our butts, and we won that low scoring game against West Virginia. I think we're doing well at 3-2 with this team and this schedule. This young team will be very good in a year or so, with all of this experience.
Posted by GoBuffs07 on October 8, 2008 at 10:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Dude WTf!!!! You have to win more than 6 games a season to get contracts. I still can't beleive they gave him an extension until 2012. He sucks as a motivator. Get rid of the bum now.
Posted by DCBuff on October 8, 2008 at 10:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree 100% with JAWS!!!!
Posted by coffman4heisman on October 8, 2008 at 10:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
As long as Cabral gets a contract, then I'm happy
Posted by nepabuff on October 8, 2008 at 11:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Cabral should have been the Head Coach.
Bohn was Hawk's old buddy from Idaho.
Posted by rswright on October 8, 2008 at 1:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Where does the money come from to pay long term contracts? Texas was the first sellout in 3 years. CU fans don't come to games except when the better teams play. Proof? E. Washington. We will never have a first class program without money but CU doesn't have fans who will support the program, win or lose i.e. Nebrasska. How about cutting back on the other sports, sorry, been there, done that.Send Mike more money, how about a contribution along with every post.
Posted by flabuff227 on October 8, 2008 at 3:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Then wheres your money rs?
Posted by reallifeshocker on October 8, 2008 at 6:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
missouri has two players that are spoken among the two best in the nation. interestingly, they have lost two games in the last seventeen played. three years ago the a.d. gave pinkel, five years into his tenure, an ultimatum: "win or else". he was patient and the results followed. colorado must be patient, and they must fork over the cash. i have been associated with u.t., for over 30 years, and have found the alumni and friends more than eager to spend the money, in order to have the type of program they so desire, and now enjoy. same at kansas. buffans need to quit carping, and open up their billfolds.
Posted by cubuffone on October 8, 2008 at 9:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
we want wins! Have you seen the economy? No bailout for Bohn and co until they start delivering. Poor performance = poor revenue = no raises Period!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You must be out of your mind to think that under the current situation you are in a position to demand such perks Get real dude.
Posted by Dizonrocks on October 8, 2008 at 10:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So nepa wants us to take a leap with him folks...Bohn, who arrived at CU from San Diego State, is, according to nepa, an old pal of Hawk's...why? because they lived in the same state! oh yeah, that makes perfect sense! not only that, Bohn was the AD at IDAHO, Boise State's in-state rival...I can see it now, Bohn getting on the phone and chatting with Hawk...forget the fact he's the AD at IDAHO, AD's call opposing Head Coaches all the time don't they? at least, that's what whosnepafish wants us to believe...what a clown...
Posted by rswright on October 9, 2008 at 11:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Can't anybody answer a simple question? If you want richer contracts for assist. coaches where does the money come from? With a small stadium we can't sell out. CU fans and alums neither come to the games or contribute in sufficient numbers to compete. Do you really want another loan from the students to pay for the coaches? If you want to give Mike an ultimatum, maybe Mike should try an ultimatum, if you don't contribute equal to NU and OU you can't expect to compete with OU and NU (besides MU,Kansas,K-state).
Posted by thefishheadsoup on October 9, 2008 at 1:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
vk - glad to see you agree with me again: cabral deserves more than just a meaningless title; he deserves to be the highest paid assistant based on results first and tenure!
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