Akron Finds Fame and Fortune Really Do Go Together

The hiring of Gerry Faust as head football coach has given the University of Akron the name recognition it sought, but at a price. Now university officials are looking for ways to recoup their investment.

Faust says that as big-time football contracts go, there’s nothing unusual about his five-year, $70,000-a-year contract; in addition to the money, it provides for free housing, a car and other perks. But he knows the salary, about $27,000 more than the previous coach’s and only $20,000 less than the university president’s, may have jolted some Akron fans.

“Considering what we are trying to accomplish here--a move from Division I-AA to major-college status--it’s not a large sum at all,” Faust said. “You know, when I was at Notre Dame, I got a heck of a lot more money and plums than I’m getting here.”

The move to Division I-A meant a big financial commitment for Akron. Salaries for Faust and eight assistants total $340,000 this year, compared with $203,420 budgeted for former Coach Jim Dennison and his staff of six.

That doesn’t count $75,000 for two newly created jobs--$45,000 for Dennison as associate athletic director, and $30,000 for former offensive coordinator Carl Falivene as administrative assistant to Faust.