Vote for Burman's worst decision (or lack of)!!

[OrediggerPoke]

Burman might not be a great AD, but the criticism of his pay just doesn't add up for me. His compensation is right in line, or even a little below average, for that position at a FBS level university.

The position carries significant responsibility and requires a major time commitment including travel that often results in a pretty good chunk of time spent away from family. As far as white collar/non-physical labor jobs go, it's not an easy one.

The criticism of his performance is definitely warranted, but at least in my opinion, his pay is about what I would expect it to be - I don't think its egregious in the least.

I disagree. I believe the criticism of his pay is warranted.

A person shouldn't be paid an amount simply because another school pays someone in the same position a similar amount. A person should be paid based on past performance and what the market would dictate. Ask this question, is there any other school in their right mind willing to pay Tom Burman $850K to be their athletic director? Is there any school willing to pay Tom Burman $300K?

One of the big reasons we are in this mess is that the University of Wyoming conducts backroom hiring negotiations where people are being paid amounts grossly in excess of what any other potential employers in the country would be willing to offer them (and with terms that are grossly favorable to the employee as opposed to the employer). Sawvel's guaranteed contract for an unproven head coach with no known suitors is a ridiculous example of this. The fact that other MWC schools pay head coaches a certain amount is absolutely irrelevant (those coaches probably earned that). To the extent a coach or AD has a market, and to the extent that coach or AD has proven themselves and to the extent a coach or AD could demand a higher salary somewhere else in the marketplace, then you reward that individual and pay them handsomely to stay here at Wyoming.

But paying someone a really high salary and simply stating "other schools pay that much" is the same exact laziness and lack of accountability that has got us in this current position of virtual irrelevancy. I really hope the new President will demand real accountability.

 

[TheRealUW]

Ask this question, is there any other school in their right mind willing to pay Tom Burman $850K to be their athletic director? Is there any school willing to pay Tom Burman $300K?

To answer this question specifically, I have heard he is/was in the running for Oregon State AD.

I'm not sure how significant the interest is/was from OSU, but they at least thought enough of him to consider him for the job.

I'm not sure why they would be interested in him, but apparently there are other schools at least interested in his services, so there is a market.

 

[OrediggerPoke]

To answer this question specifically, I have heard he is/was in the running for Oregon State AD.

I'm not sure how significant the interest is/was from OSU, but they at least thought enough of him to consider him for the job.

I'm not sure why they would be interested in him, but apparently there are other schools at least interested in his services, so there is a market.

Did you get that information here? (Or elsewhere)

15 potential candidates for Oregon State athletic director

An initial look at potential candidates for OSU athletic director

www.oregonlive.com

This seems to be a purely speculative article that includes ‘15 potential candidates’ and then goes on to incorrectly state that Tom Burman is in the final year of his contract at Wyoming where he makes 300K. Hardly seems accurate to me.

 

[cowpoke pride]

I think he would be fantastic at Oregon St, one of the flagship institutions of the new and improved PAC whatever.

 

[TheRealUW]

Did you get that information here? (Or elsewhere)

15 potential candidates for Oregon State athletic director

An initial look at potential candidates for OSU athletic director

www.oregonlive.com

This seems to be a purely speculative article that includes ‘15 potential candidates’ and then goes on to incorrectly state that Tom Burman is in the final year of his contract at Wyoming where he makes 300K. Hardly seems accurate to me.

I had not seen that article. I had just heard it from acquaintances who have limited/peripheral connections to UW at best, so I took it with a grain of salt. That being said, I suspect there was at least a phone call made between the two parties. Whether it went any further than that would be pure speculation.

 

[rocket city poke]

Burman might not be a great AD, but the criticism of his pay just doesn't add up for me. His compensation is right in line, or even a little below average, for that position at a FBS level university.

The position carries significant responsibility and requires a major time commitment including travel that often results in a pretty good chunk of time spent away from family. As far as white collar/non-physical labor jobs go, it's not an easy one.

The criticism of his performance is definitely warranted, but at least in my opinion, his pay is about what I would expect it to be - I don't think its egregious in the least.

Did you get that information here? (Or elsewhere)

15 potential candidates for Oregon State athletic director

An initial look at potential candidates for OSU athletic director

www.oregonlive.com

This seems to be a purely speculative article that includes ‘15 potential candidates’ and then goes on to incorrectly state that Tom Burman is in the final year of his contract at Wyoming where he makes 300K. Hardly seems accurate to me.

I will almost guarantee the Burman met whoever this person was that wrote the article when he was at Portland State, he knows there is an opening at OSU and he contacted Oregon Live writer and asked him to put his name as a candidate. That's the type of crap that he does just to act like there is some sort of interest. There is 0 interest and he is just trying to create some sort of buzz. I can't imagine how upset the Oregon State fan base would be if they actually hired him.

 

[TheRealUW]

I will almost guarantee the Burman met whoever this person was that wrote the article when he was at Portland State, he knows there is an opening at OSU and he contacted Oregon Live writer and asked him to put his name as a candidate. That's the type of crap that he does just to act like there is some sort of interest. There is 0 interest and he is just trying to create some sort of buzz. I can't imagine how upset the Oregon State fan base would be if they actually hired him.

It's far more likely that this reporter asked some AI engine to create this list for him. Unfortunately, that's the state of journalism these days.

I really doubt Burman is calling reporters asking them to add his name to theoretical job candidate lists. I would assume he would be pretty happy retiring at this point.