Montana Coach’s Contract Requires $80K In ‘Money Games’

Billings Gazette

http://billingsgazette.com/sports/college/big-sky-conference/university-of-montana/basketball-mens/um-basketball-coach-s-contract-requires-k-in-money-games/article_c4996fdf-0875-5064-9dda-8a335cfbf690.html

HELENA – The new three-year contract for Montana men’s basketball coach Wayne Tinkle includes a requirement that the Griz generate at least $80, 000 each year in game guarantees.

It also allows Tinkle and his assistants to share any additional money up to $150, 000 brought in by the so-called “money games.”

“We’re kind of behind the times on it, interim athletic director Jean Gee said Tuesday. It’s a pretty common provision in Division I coaches contracts.”

The contract the school announced Friday sets Tinkle’s base pay at $135, 000 a year, along with various benefits including a $500 monthly vehicle allowance, pay for appearing on coaches’ shows and bonuses for his team’s academic and athletic success.

Tinkle said he has been required to play one guarantee game in each of the past several years to help support other sports programs, but the new provision allows the school to give the men’s coaches a more competitive salary without using state money.

“I think I’m the first (UM) coach that they’ve kind of required to play one of those games per year – a minimum of one – to bring money into the department for some of the other programs, Tinkle said.

Money games” are road games played against larger schools in exchange for a guaranteed payment to the visiting school. In recent years, Montana has played Colorado State, UCLA, Oregon and Washington.

“I like playing bigger teams anyway, Tinkle said. It’s a good experience for our guys.”

The Griz beat UCLA during the 2010-11 season and Oregon the year before.

Tinkle notes it can be difficult for Montana to schedule nonconference home games anyway, because it’s “tough to get here, the teams don’t recruit in Montana and the Griz are pretty tough to beat in Dahlberg Arena.

Should the Griz bring in more than $150,000 per year in game guarantees, 75 percent of the additional money will go to the athletic department and 25 percent to the men’s basketball program. The additional basketball money can be used for recruiting, professional development or summer school funding for student-athletes, but not for salaries or bonuses, the contract states.

, Montana Coach’s Contract Requires $80K In ‘Money Games’

Billings Gazette

http://billingsgazette.com/sports/college/big-sky-conference/university-of-montana/basketball-mens/um-basketball-coach-s-contract-requires-k-in-money-games/article_c4996fdf-0875-5064-9dda-8a335cfbf690.html

HELENA – The new three-year contract for Montana men’s basketball coach Wayne Tinkle includes a requirement that the Griz generate at least $80,000 each year in game guarantees.

It also allows Tinkle and his assistants to share any additional money up to $150,000 brought in by the so-called money games.”

“We’re kind of behind the times on it, interim athletic director Jean Gee said Tuesday. It’s a pretty common provision in Division I coaches contracts.”

The contract the school announced Friday sets Tinkle’s base pay at $135, 000 a year, along with various benefits including a $500 monthly vehicle allowance, pay for appearing on coaches’ shows and bonuses for his team’s academic and athletic success.

Tinkle said he has been required to play one guarantee game in each of the past several years to help support other sports programs, but the new provision allows the school to give the men’s coaches a more competitive salary without using state money.

“I think I’m the first (UM) coach that they’ve kind of required to play one of those games per year – a minimum of one – to bring money into the department for some of the other programs, Tinkle said.

Money games” are road games played against larger schools in exchange for a guaranteed payment to the visiting school. In recent years, Montana has played Colorado State, UCLA, Oregon and Washington.

“I like playing bigger teams anyway, Tinkle said. It’s a good experience for our guys.”

The Griz beat UCLA during the 2010-11 season and Oregon the year before.

Tinkle notes it can be difficult for Montana to schedule nonconference home games anyway, because it’s “tough to get here, ” the teams don’t recruit in Montana and the Griz are pretty tough to beat in Dahlberg Arena.

Should the Griz bring in more than $150,000 per year in game guarantees, 75 percent of the additional money will go to the athletic department and 25 percent to the men’s basketball program. The additional basketball money can be used for recruiting, professional development or summer school funding for student-athletes, but not for salaries or bonuses, the contract states.