Dear Bill:
We studied with great interest your department’s salary releases last week. The following line items were of particular interest to us:
Bill Martin, Athletic Director
2005-06 $346,080
2006-07 $355,770
2.8 percent increase
Tommy Amaker, Men’s Basketball
2005-06 $167,187
2006-07 $172,203
3.0 percent increase
Rich Maloney, Men’s Baseball
2005-06 $81,689
2006-07 $98,000
20 percent increase
Joe McFarland, Men’s Wrestling
2005-06 $76,000
2006-07 $95,000
25 percent increase
Bill, the Board of Trustees and the taxpayers of the great state of Michigan are on to you. There is a scarlet A on your back and the clock is ticking. Your move Bill. The time to save your hide is nigh.
Saturday’s toxic viewing from Pauley Pavilion shouldn’t be a surprise. The evidence has been accumulating for six years and running. It’s not necessary to catalogue it here. Revisit the Hoopraker and Nathan Fenno Ann Arbor News archives if you need primary source reminders.
Hopefully you already know what the method of recompense must be. I have to imagine that certain self-respecting and clear visioned segments of the alumni base have articulated, I hope with some vitriol attached, exactly what is called for. Last week’s salary disclosures seem to suggest that you are, at least, willing to address the issue indirectly.
Unfortunately, damning the problem with faint praise isn’t adequate. Hoping the double digit increases to the deserving high performers in your department will deliver the necessary message to the lackeys isn’t leadership. It’s time to be direct. Decisive. Take a cue from the company that doubles or triples your head basketball coach’s total fleecing to north of a half million per annum. Just do it Bill. Your job may depend on it. The reputation of your basketball program surely does.
