Coaches Finish Out of Money Again

High school coaches in the City Section are fuming, and deservedly so. The new three-year UTLA contract with the Los Angeles Unified School District once again leaves coaches without a pay raise. In other words, they will go through the 1990s without a pay increase.

“My 25 cents an hour continues into the next millennium,” Kennedy football Coach Bob Francola said.

Coaching stipends range from $912 to the maximum $1,785 for football, basketball, baseball, softball and track head coaches.

UTLA spokesman Sam Kresner said coaches are “underpaid,” but the district insisted there is no money left to increase supplemental pay.

“It’s an absolute disgrace,” Reseda football Coach Joel Schaeffer said. “You talk about being taken for granted.”

Yes, coaches are taken for granted--except when the teachers go on strike and suddenly want the coaches front and center on picket lines attracting publicity for their cause.

Make no mistake about it, coaching in the 1990s is about helping kids and not making money. Those coaches who spend hours directing their players in summer football passing competitions are basically doing it free.

At least they’re getting a nice suntan.