Coker's contract extension big victory for UTSA football

[Harry]

SAN ANTONIO -- There are home runs and then there are grand slams.

UTSA hit the latter in 2009 when it hired Larry Coker, who guided Miami to the 2001 BCS national championship and came within a controversial call of leading the Hurricanes to another title the next year, as its first football coach.

The Roadrunners have gone 19-15 in three seasons under Coker and came within one victory of advancing to the Conference USA championship game last year.

On Thursday, the University of Texas System Board of Regents rewarded Coker with a new five-contract and raise that will run through the 2018 season.

The new contract, effective Sept. 1, guarantees Coker $2.25 million over the next five years. He will be paid a base salary of $400,000 this year, with a $25,000 increase each subsequent year.

Read more: http://www.kens5.com/story/opinion/contributors/david-flores/2014/08/22/coker-contract-extension/14432683/

[outoftown]

gosh he is cheap. There were a lot of people complaining how we should have paid coach mac even more than we do, when he already gets 1.5 times what coker gets.

Edited August 23, 2014 by outoftown

[meangreenthirteen]

I wouldn't be surprised if somebody snatched him up before that contract runs out.

[Mean Green 93-98]

I wouldn't be surprised if somebody snatched him up before that contract runs out.

If he were younger, I'd agree. But UTSA apparently has no qualms about conning the elderly.

[Harry]

It appears UTSA has a tight budget. Still a good deal to keep him there.

[outoftown]

If he were younger, I'd agree. But UTSA apparently has no qualms about conning the elderly.

I sure would like to be conned to the tune of receiving 400k a year

[Mean Green 93-98]

I sure would like to be conned to the tune of receiving 400k a year

If you were a national champion head coach who had just built a program from nothing to a competitive C-USA team, you'd feel differently. Understand that the marketplace dictates salary, as well as resume. I don't know what you do for a living, but others who do what you do probably don't make $500k and up to do it. Coker is the lowest-paid coach in C-USA. On what basis? Considering what he has done, he should be in the top 3. But he's last.

For all that can be said about UTSA's recent commitment to athletics, they clearly fall short here.

[untjim1995]

It wouldn't surprise me at all to see a school like SMU go hard after Larry Coker when June Jones is gone.

[aztecskin]

Larry likely doesn't want to give up a good gig, even if it is underpaid, for some unknown. He put in a lot of time and effort in building this. He really can't lose here. He'll coach for another five-ten years and retire a god. SA is a big retirement town anyway.

[hickoryhouse]

Larry likely doesn't want to give up a good gig, even if it is underpaid, for some unknown. He put in a lot of time and effort in building this. He really can't lose here. He'll coach for another five-ten years and retire a god. SA is a big retirement town anyway.

I have to agree here. they guy has been around the block more than a few times and I would hope has made quite a bit of money along the way. Maybe he wants to build himself a legacy someplace that will appreciate him. I don't claim to have the foggiest idea of what happened in Miami but what I can tell is that they aren't his biggest fans down there. IF he can build UTSA up to something consistent then he gets to go down remembered as a great coach at UTSA not a disgraced one at Miami.

[Harry]

As big a year as this is for us, it is even bigger for UTSA.

This is the year they have been building toward since they started down this road.

Even their most ardent of fans will tell you they are in major rebuilding mode next season. Getting to a bowl game this season would raise their profile considerably.

As much as our fans despise them, for the good of the conference we need to see them do well. If they bust this season it could be a long road back..

I think the Houston game will tell us a lot. I think Houston will be REALLY good this season. If UTSA can somehow manage to beat them in their stadium opener WATCH OUT.. they could have a huge year!

[The Fake Lonnie Finch]

gosh he is cheap. There were a lot of people complaining how we should have paid coach mac even more than we do, when he already gets 1.5 times what coker gets.

He was making $2 million per season at Miami, and had a payout of $2.4 to $3 million when he was fired. So, that there, six years plus the payout was somewhere north of $14 million.

Assuming the highest tax bracket, he probably walked away with $4-5 million in the bank. He's from a small town in Oklahoma and seems pretty low key (married to the same gal for 40+ years, isn't having Jerry Jones facelifts, etc.), so I'm guessing he's been thrifty with his money.

So, if he likes San Antonio, the cost of living on the personal side, the recruiting base on the business side...whatever UTSA pays him at this point is probably gravy money.