Is high school coach worth $55,000 extra?

What gets your dander up?

Based on the input received at SportsLink, it’s Cougars football and blown calls – not always in that order.

The outcome of the Oregon and Oklahoma game was still a hot topic last week – it finally died down after more than 30 comments and a handful of e-mails – as was just about anything having to do with the Cougs.

Such subjects are the steak and fried bread of sports blogs. The controversial and the home team always sell.

The more controversial it gets, the more people get their dander up.

But that’s not what the SportsLink is about – or at least what I want it to be about.

I’ve discovered over the years The Spokesman-Review’s readers can be pretty sharp. Most of you take the time to read, reason and reflect before you write. The answers to questions, the comments on the news, these things are usually insightful and interesting.

Which is why we are asking more than just your typical “How about them Cougs?” questions. Sure, we will ask those, you’re obligated if you want to be a place people go to learn about their team and vent their usually unheard opinions.

But we want more.

Sunday I posted a link to a Seattle Times story concerning Bellevue High and its highly successful football program. Seems there had been some allegations of recruiting and the school district hired a former principal to investigate.

According to her report, she found nothing actionable about the Wolverines’ practices.

But the story also reported something else she discovered: Head football coach Butch Goncharoff was paid $55,000 last year by the school’s football booster club.

Now I know high school booster clubs have been showering football coaches with gifts and extra recompense for years, I’m not naïve. I’m sure there have been Inland Northwest coaches given a few extra perks over the years, and they have accepted them gladly.

After all, high school coaches aren’t paid much for their extracurricular activities and many of them put in hours you can’t imagine. A favorable lease on a car, a gift certificate to Clinkerdagger’s, even help with the rent, these things are probably done and no one says a thing.

But $55,000? Doesn’t that seem excessive? Doesn’t that seem a misuse of money?

By all reports, Goncharoff is a successful businessman who owns a printing business. He coaches at Bellevue because he wants to, not for the $5,600 coaching stipend. And yes, he puts in uncountable hours ensuring the best for his kids.

After the 2002 3A state title, the booster club offered a $12,000 per year bonus. Goncharoff accepted. And it’s grown from there.

So is this the right thing to do? Is it the right way to spend booster club money, money that comes from community donations? Are there other things money like that could be spent on?

At SportsLink, we want to know what you think. If you are interested, the post on Bellevue is headlined “For $55,000 you can buy a lot of frenzy.”

At the bottom of the post there is a question. We want to know what you could do for your school’s academic programs with $55,000. Sure, the money won’t solve all the school’s problems, but I bet it would make a dent.

Get your dander up and your fingers busy typing. We want your opinions.