USC's Top Paid Employees

USC's latest tax returns are out, and once again we can take a glimpse into the wallets of the university's highest earners. There's a newcomer in the top five: assistant football coach Steve Sarkisian.

The most eye-catching number is that Pete Carroll was the first college football coach to breach the $4 million mark. Last year, Nick Saban signed a similar deal at Alabama that caused a lot of public debate and discussion of a Congressional inquiry. Carroll was already making that -- plus 10% -- a season earlier.

If you ask Forbes Magazine, Carroll is actually underpaid by 14%.

These numbers are from USC's 2006 IRS 990 filing. In plain English, that covers the 2006-07 academic year. As a private institution, the school does not have to release contract information and other details (as most public schools do).

1. Pete Carroll - Head Football Coach

• Compensation: $3,953,648
• Contributions to Employee Benefit Plans: $84,566
• Expense Account: $20,672
• Excluded from compensation is $377,500 paid to a deferred compensation plan.
• Total 2006-07 package: $4,436,386

2. Tim Floyd - Head Basketball Coach

• Compensation: $971,264
• Contributions to Employee Benefit Plans: $61,019
• Expense Account: $6,328
• Excluded from compensation is $62,500 paid to a deferred compensation plan.
• Total 2006-07 package: $1,101,111

3. Brian Henderson - Dean of Keck School of Medicine

• Compensation: $748,695
• Contributions to Employee Benefit Plans: $79,686
• Expense Account: $3,813
• Excluded from compensation is $57,088 paid to a deferred compensation plan.
• Total 2006-07 package: $889,282

4. Mike Garrett - Athletic Director

• Compensation: $659,489
• Contributions to Employee Benefit Plans: $77,181
• Expense Account: $19,774
• Excluded from compensation is $46,750 paid to a deferred compensation plan.
• Total 2006-07 package: $803,194

5. Steve Sarkisian - Assistant Football Coach

• Compensation: $597,784
• Contributions to Employee Benefit Plans: $73,091
• Expense Account: $3,128
• Excluded from compensation is $30,377 paid to a deferred compensation plan.
• Total 2006-07 package: $704,380

University President Steven Sample would actually rank third, but his compensation as a trustee is listed separately from employees. Here's how his package breaks down:

• Compensation: $740,764
• Contributions to Employee Benefit Plans: $96,139
• Expense Account: $71,801
• Excluded from compensation is $69,875 paid to a deferred compensation plan.
• Total 2006-07 package: $978,579

President Sample is also provided with housing of undisclosed value.

USC reported a total revenue of $2.7 billion in 2006-07 and total expenses of $2.06 billion. The school closed the year with just shy of $6 billion in assets and just over $1.1 billion in liabilities.

-- Adam Rose

Comments

[true trojan fan]

quite frankly we are getting Pete on the Cheap. Now we know why we dominate those guys across town, cant get myself to name them in the same paragraph with the MAN.

[Robert]

Why am I still paying so much in tuition?

[martscan]

The epitome of a farce in the context of an institution of 'higher learning.'

I verily have to stifle a retch reading of such a gross distortion, which reflects our society's true values. Uch!

[Felipe]

University Surrounded by Criminals-USC
Carroll might do some charity work to recruit future players but I think USC would be better off reducing or offering FREE college degrees to those living withing the confines of USC meaning black and brown folks and keep charging the premium fees to the privileged class for their right to view semi-pro football.

[Pete]

Actually, Felipe, USC is extremely generous with financial aid to kids from South L.A. who can get in; it's just that very few of them do, because the school has pretty rigorous admissions standards. (The dumb rich kids are able to get in because their parents can afford 20 hours a week of private SAT tutoring.) Children of employees--down to the lunch ladies and janitors--get 50% tuition reductions right off the bat and often end up paying nothing at all. Again, though, this is if you get in, which is a non-trivial thing.

But hey, USC's a private school. Look at the income figures for head football coaches at public universities in the SEC and Big 12 and tell me where those states' priorities lie.

[Art Johnson]

They forgot to add Brennan Carrolls salary onto Pete's ...if Sarkasian making a half mil then Brennans got be a quarter mil....

[Steve]

One more reason not to send your kid to USC. Overpaid coaches and the he/she may may not come back alive given the location. Instead of all this sports hype, why don't they spend the money and move the campus to an area where you won't get killed. Typical USC all show and money, this has to be the most over rated education and university in the country.

[miguel los felis]

Pete Carrol is one of the best in the US; Mike Garrett is one of the best in NCAA; Dr. Brian Hendersen is one of the best [former] Medical School Deans. So, you pay for the best. USC has done more for Los Angeles community than any other university in the country has done for their community. 'Free tuituion' also?: don't think "Free" but there are special minority considerations for all races.
Point of A. Rose article: muckrake?

[vochoa0371]

Not a USC fan but Pete has college football experience. Hey, if you are a USC fan, you should not complaint how much Pete earns a year. He is there because of you. Keep him there and the USC program will continue to be what it is. He is done a okay in college ranks. The professional ranks are a little too tough for him to handle.

[SCfaculty]

Odd. I've been teaching at SC for 25 years, and I don't see my name on that list. Or did I misread where the decimal point is on those figures.

[Enid]

and the third grade teacher who will teach your child to read and understand words WILL MAKE ????
sports in school are very overrated. Small children are seriously injured and have related complication due to sports injures lasting a lifetime.
Young body's are not yet ready for this trauma or exploited need for so called sport. More like WAR.

[fight on]

Good idea Felipe. In fact, USC has already thought of it: http://www.usc.edu/ext-relations/nai/

[rich]

USC is getting its money's worth...the football program pays for itself over and over again.

[Eduardo]

Alot of these replies smacks of ignorance, hysterics, stereotypes, and just plain 'sour grapes'. I went to USC for Graduate School and must say I loved my experience there. I never encountered problems there and would sent my children there.
Not bad for a "brown folk" who did not get "killed" by attending USC.
(Some of these replies would be funny if it didn't say alot about the mindframe of the person writing it)

[Reallyannoyed]

If you are one those Employees, as noted above, USC stands for :

University
of
Secured
Compensation

[Rob]

No wonder Pete hasnt bolted to the NFL. Why go to the NFL when you can make more money and have better talent at USC. Pete Carroll deserves every penny of his millions.

As far as you jealous morans go....get over your whinning. You sound really stupid. GO USC TROJANS!

[dwainebarnes]

If this was for 2007 would OJ Mayo have made the top 5?

[No Sports Fan]

Holy Cow! This is Jock City, with a bit of learning tacked on so they can call it a university.

Seems that balls are more valued than brains.

[Okie Trojan]

Steve, USC thought about moving to Malibu and had a deal to sell the current campus in the early '60s; they decided to recommit to the city and stay put. If USC hadn't been an island of prosperity and commerce on South Figueroa, would the high rises of Bunker Hill have been built? What would the city (and Southern California) look like today?

[Alexandria]

Actually Steve, I'm gonna sit here and tell you that the school is in the nicest nor the safest area in Los Angeles. But the stereotypes aren't true. The community around there don't go and bother you, unless you evoke them. (That's given anywhere) And they're really supportive of the school. I felt very safe walking around at night. Hey, I don't see people complaining about Fordham or Columbia in New York.

It's not an overrated education. If you think that some of the countries top rated programs are overrated, then I have to ask if you went to UCLA.

Oh, and I didn't get killed and I "wasted" my money on an "overrated" education.

[Jesse T Ayala]

I worked at USC for 27 years busting my behind as a driver. I sent SIX, once again, SIX sons to USC for Bachelors and Master's Degrees. I felt I was a very highly paid employee at USC. Thanks USC for making my boys the educated men they are. Fight ON!!!

[Andrew Ayala]

My Dad made an earlier comment. Its true,we did attend USC for FREE. All SIX of us. USC rewards its dedicated employees very well. Pete Carroll is worth every penny as my Dad was. Fight On USC!!!!!

[Mark]

I also heard that USC was offered the UCLA site prior to UCLA and turned it down.
BTW, USC was affiliated with the Methodist Church and housed a Methodist seminary until the 50's. The people in the center tower are all theologians.

[Pete Carroll is overated]

PETE CARROLL IS OVERATED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why:
First of all he was fired in the pros. Then he is hired by default by USC. His first year he goes 6-6 then with weeks to prepare for his first bowl game against a team that he has more talent than (Utah) he losses 0-6. Even with Carson Palmer on that team he gets shut out. With no knowledge of X's and O's, SC fans want him out.

National titles:
Norm Chow blesses USC and runs the offense one year after Petes first year. 3 Heismans and 2 National titles later he leaves. By the way USC could have won 3 National titles, but it was Petes idea too put a Freshman on Vince Young to make sure that he does not rush for any yards. Vince finished with 4 to 5 rushing TD's. Norm was also kind enough to leave the blue prints to his offense which is still being used by the current staff.

Recruiting:
Yes Pete does recruit very well, but keep in mind that USC has never had a problem in that area. Even before Carroll arrived SC still had 1st round draft selections (Keyshawn) and still out recruited the country at times, even though they did very little with the talent. Having an L.A. exposure can also be very attractive to young players and can also be an advantage. and lets face it, with the programs history, tradition, and facilities combined no other school on the West Coast can match it. Finally, I hate to say it, but having sports agents in your own back yard always helps. Example: that O.J. Mayo guy who gave him money lived 7 miles from campus. I bet Joe Mcknight who could have stayed home and played for his favorite team LSU and won a national title last year with more playing time is not on some agents payroll.

I know what your thinking, "but all schools do it" that is not true. Most schools do not buy their athletes but Yes the big ones do. USC however has a huge advantage over the other schools as most of the sports agents live miles from the campus. USC may not have direct involvement, but tell me those coaches and aministration do not see them hanging around with older men who arent related to them. The Coaching staff have met most of the players families, they also can see what they are driving, wearing and living off campus. Covering up recruiting violations seem to be his thing as well. Yes, even illegal recruiting, like when Joe Mcknight said that he talked to Reggie Bush before commiting to SC (which is a violation) and Pete was there to cover it up and say that Joe made a mistake and meant to say that he listened on a phone conversation between him and Reggie.

Lack of control:
I know that most programs have players that have a criminal history. But it seems that this coach recruits most of them. Assault, drugs, rape, gun possession, it doesnt matter. Coach Carrol will be there to cover it up. Just show up on Saturdays should be his War Cry. At least most coaches have the guts to kick players of the team, but Carroll seems to do very little of that.

Sorry for the long comment, but I do respect USC for the program it has built and they should not have to apologize for it. I think USC is one of the easiest places to coach because of location and athletes in your backyard and no competition near you compared to other schools. I feel the Pete Carroll just a lucky guy who stumbled upon a forgotten treasure.

One more thing, I am sick of SC fans gloating and dont care what kind of reputation that Carroll has built as long as they have bragging rights. Its like the SF Giants bragging about owning the home run record. They know how they got it but don't care.

Fight on....Illegally.

[Mark]

That's great that you pay your coach $4,000,000 a year, but only 55% of your football players graduate.