$1 Million for Alvarez, What else did Chancellor Martin Authorize as a Surprise

MILWAUKEE, WI - It is being reported that UW Badger Coach Barry Alvarez 5-year contract, through 2016, will bring him an annual salary of $1million.

I say NO.
I say NO because it sends the wrong signal. The UW System was not put in place for membership in the NCAA - National Collegiate Athletic Association.

At a time when austere measures should be put in place for the now and future sustainability of Wisconsin Public education systems, it is out-of-order to suggest any type of increase - and for sure those expenditures that border gaudiness in spending.

"With all due respect to Coarch Alvarez, College Hall of Fame and Badger Bowl birth, I betcha we could get at the very least, a comparable coach, for less, said Mary Glass, Chair/CEO, Milwaukee Professionals Association. "It appears that once individuals making the decision and those receiving benefits start hobnobbing, throwing around other-people's money and pushing the envelope for selfish gains, we quickly move into 'greed'". "Given in-the-moment madness and today's volality, we can not be in the over-compensation market - ex-chancellor Martin was here less than 3 years - it is a set-up for more-and-more."


L-R,
Jeff Wendorf, Coach Alvarez, Chancellor Martin

Chancellor Martin
It is reported that Chancellor Martin authorized the amount. Are we in for other such surprises of compensations and distribution of funding?

Looking at some of the 2008 compensation reporting when she came aboard, she took a cut in salary coming from Cornell as the Provost. However, her arrival caused an increase of over $110k than her predecessor, Chancellor John Wiley. It also boost extra funding from UW Foundation and Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation - $50K.

Part of her benefits included her own box at the Badger games. Perhaps during the games her guest convinced her of how they would provide compenstion for Coach Alvarez.

In place for the NEW Chancellor is the John D. Wiley Chancellor's Chair Endowment (investment revenue) to assist with the Madison chancellors' salaries going forward.

It appears that the Foundations have stepped in again with $500K pledge for half of the $1million for Coach Alvarez. If the foundations are loaded-with-dough, why not share it with scholarships and/or help with tuitions for the students who are struggle, some having to drop out. This would be more inline with the purpose of the land-grant public higher education sites in the UW-System.

UW Regents
The UW Regents will meet July 14, 2011, let's see it there is a continuation of this inappropriate behavior.

What do you think?