Grads To Pay Off For Coaches In Idaho

The Idaho Board of Education has adopted a policy requiring state college and universities to link student-athlete graduation rates and coaches’ pay.

The policy went into effect at all four schools last week, although Boise State University has had a similar policy in effect for a year.

The policy requires contracts with head coaches to include academic incentives.

“More than anything, this helps the student athletes - quote, dumb jocks,” said board member Tom Dillon of Caldwell.

University of Idaho athletic director Pete Liske questions whether the new policy is needed.

“We don’t put (academic incentives) specifically in our contracts, but that’s always a part of our evaluations,” he said. “If you’re not moving forward academically, then you don’t get rewarded.”

It may be the first such policy in the nation. The board last year adopted a get-tough policy toward student-athletes who get in trouble with the law. It requires disclosure of criminal violations.

“We’ve taken some important steps, and I don’t think we want to loosen the reins,” said Board president Curtis Eaton, of Twin Falls. “In some respects, we’ve been national leaders, and personally, I’m pleased about that.”

The policy states that contracts of all head coaches must include academic incentives, although it doesn’t specify the incentives.

“Most student-athletes are quality people, but they get painted with the same brush as the bad ones and this is an effort to change that,” Dillon said.

One coach said the incentives are unlikely to change the way he coaches and recruits players.

“You always want to improve, but I don’t think money is going to change us or how hard we work,” said Brian McNeely, Idaho State’s head football coach. Still, he welcomes the incentives.

“I think it’s a wonderful idea. It helps coaches to understand the commitment to academics they need to have.”

Graduation rates among athletes at the three state universities are higher than the graduation rate for students as a whole, according to reports submitted to the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

At BSU, it’s 38 percent for athletes and 21 percent for students as a whole; at Idaho, 46 percent of athletes graduate compared to 43 percent of all students; and at Idaho State, it’s 43 percent and 38 percent.

Boise State has been using incentives since athletic director Gene Bleymaier negotiated a new contract with football coach Pokey Allen. Since Allen, 24 other head and assistant coaches have had academic incentives built into their contracts.

This spring, when Bleymaier issues his first bonuses, he expects to spend between $10,000 and $15,000.

The incentives also cover performance. If a team does well in competition and meets the academic incentives, a coach can get a bonus ranging from $1,000 to $3,000.