Tulsa's "Keep Kragthorpe Campaign"

DeepGreen · April 2, 2006

3/31/2006

Boosters go proactive to keep Kragthorpe

The e-mail screamed its message to followers of University of Tulsa athletics.

Keep Kragthorpe Campaign!

Those three words probably brought fear to TU backers. Worrisome fans could have thought successful football coach Steve Kragthorpe was debating a job change.

Instead, a group of boosters is being proactive instead of reactive by raising and earmarking funds for Kragthorpe and his assistant coaches. The money is planned to be a reward and incentive for success.

"People are very supportive both financially and emotionally," said Bubba Cunningham, TU's director of athletics. "It's a good idea. Steve and his staff are valuable members of the Tulsa community and retaining good people is what everyone tries to do."

NCAA regulations mandate that TU oversees fundraising efforts like the Keep Kragthorpe Campaign, which has raised a "significant" amount during the past month. Kragthorpe isn't planning on leaving. His focus is on the upcoming 2006 football season.

He is aware of the campaign, which has asked for a three-year financial commitment from fans to boost annual salaries for the coach and his assistants.

"I'm very flattered with the fact that people are recognizing the progress that we've made," Kragthorpe said this week. "It's not just a one-man show. We have a great staff that's done a super job. We have a great administration and a great support staff.

"We think we're on the cusp of doing something very special here."

Kragthorpe's name is red-hot in the football world. He surfaced as a possible candidate for Colorado's vacant job before he extinguished the rumor.

He was also courted by the Dallas Cowboys when the NFL team's passing game coordinator job opened earlier this year. But he stayed true to the college game instead of working with former pupil and Cowboys quarterback Drew Bledsoe.

Basically, Kragthorpe bypassed America's team for Tulsa's team.

"He enjoys the community and he believes in the university and he believes in the student-athletes and the coaching staff," Cunningham said. "He's working hard every day to be successful and he has an awful lot of people believing in him and buying into that concept."

It's believed Kragthorpe earns between $350,000-400,000 a year. Since TU is a private institution, the school isn't required to release his salary.

Kragthorpe signed two contract extensions. In 2004, he inked a one-year deal and prior to last season he agreed to a six-year contract that runs through the 2010-11 academic year.

When Kragthorpe has been given heftier contracts and raises, he's made sure everyone's involved in the windfalls.

"When I came here, I ended up taking less money so I could have more for my assistants," said Kragthorpe. "Every time I've gotten a piece of the pie, they've gotten a big chunk of it too. "As a head coach, you're only as successful as the guys you have around you."

College football is a business and there's little doubt that schools from power conferences will chase Kragthorpe, who resurrected a struggling TU program over the past three years.

Among those spearheading the Keep Kragthorpe Campaign is Mike Case, who oversaw a similar campaign a few years ago to keep former basketball coach Bill Self at Tulsa.

Case deferred questions for this story to Cunningham. The Tulsa businessman has been a friend to the university and recently showed his commitment to TU athletics with a large donation for the Case Athletic Complex, being built behind Skelly Stadium's north end zone.

"Every day when we come out to practice, we see the Case Athletic Complex being built brick by brick," Kragthorpe said. "That's exciting. The future for us is very bright and we're excited to be a part of it."

But will Kragthorpe have an office there for years to come? TU fan Doyt Duncan hopes so.

The 34-year-old is an avid TU fan. On Friday, he'll take his pledge to the school to become part of the fundraising campaign.

Duncan said Kragthorpe has earned his support.

"I think he'll be able to maintain this success and I think keeping him will bring more fans to games," Duncan said. "I know several fans and friends that are going to be season ticket holders next year, especially since he didn't go anywhere."

The Colorado or Dallas jobs would have vaulted Kragthorpe into the millionaire club. But he'd rather chase TU victories than dollar signs.

"I've always had enough money," he said. "The Lord has always blessed me with enough to make a house payment and keep my kids in clothes. Whether I was making $27,000 a year or what I make now, we've never needed anything.

"Money is not a big object to me. It's important that I support my family in a quality lifestyle and that's easy to do in Tulsa."