Clay Helton #2 in Pac-12 Salaries

BEN BOLCHRYAN KARTJETHUC NHI NGUYEN (LAT)

1. Arizona  —  Kevin Sumlin

2020 salary: $3.5 million

Year at school, record: Third year, 9-15

 

 

2. Arizona State  —  Herm Edwards

2020 salary: $3.5 million

Year at school, record: Third, 15-11

 

3. California  —  Justin Wilcox

2020 salary: $3.05 million

Year at school, record: Fourth, 20-18

 

4. Colorado  —  Karl Dorrell

2020 salary: $3.2 million

Year at school, record: First

5. Oregon  —  Mario Cristobal

2020 salary: $2.7 million

Year at school, record: Third, 21-7

 

6. Oregon State  —  Jonathan Smith

2020 salary: $2.4 million

Year at school, record: Third, 7-17

7. Stanford  —  David Shaw

Coach: David Shaw

2019 salary: $4.61 million

Year at school, record: Tenth, 86-34

8. UCLA  —  Chip Kelly

2020 salary: $4.3 million

Year at school, record: Third, 7-17

9. USC  —  Clay Helton

2018 Salary: $4.5 million

Year at school, record: Fifth, 40-22

Coaching resume: Seen as the safe choice to steady the Trojans after the rocky tenures of Lane Kiffin and Steve Sarkisian, Helton was hired as the permanent coach in November 2015 after going 5-2 on an interim basis. Helton also had the strong support of the players he had nurtured in a variety of roles at the school after arriving in 2010 as quarterbacks coach and rising to offensive coordinator.

2019 fiscal year athletic department revenue: $118.6 million

Fast fact: A buyout that’s believed to be in excess of $20 million may explain why Helton has been granted more lives than Bruce Willis in “Die Hard.” He’s gone 13-12 over the last two seasons, not exactly the return that then-athletic director Lynn Swann expected in February 2018 when he lavished a more than 40% raise upon Helton as part of a contract extension lasting through the 2023 season. Swann was gone by the fall of 2019 after resigning amid a hail of criticism, but Helton has remained a campus fixture.

10. Utah  —  Kyle Whittingham

2020 salary: $4 million

Year at school, record: 16th, 131-64

11. Washington  —  Jimmy Lake

2020 salary: $3 million

Year at school, record: First

12. Washington State  —  Nick Rolovich

2020 salary: $3 million

Year at school, record: First

latimes.com

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danielmcd1
danielmcd1
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September 19, 2020 5:08 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Good Morning Allen. All the Pac12 football teams should be practicing as if they already know their season will start October 31. Even if it starts Nov 7, who cares, practice whatever you can, weights, conditioning, outside work in drills, 7 on 7 etc. Wear your helmets, do everything with the exception of tackling if that is not yet allowed. What is the worst that can happen? They can tell us the season is off. At least all the teams did their preparation. I truly think we will get some games played. Be it 7 or 8 games at least… Read more »

usc50
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usc50
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September 19, 2020 6:34 am
Reply to  danielmcd1

Have to agree with your comments. the Pac12 should give it a good try to play football. They can call it off at anytime if something happens. But to not forge ahead will not make the Pac12 look good. The most will probably be a 6 game schedule with a Pac12 championship game.
It will be great for the fans who have had much bad news lately.
Also the seniors deserve to go out properly to show our appreciation.

TrojanRJJ
Noble Genius
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September 19, 2020 9:06 am
Reply to  danielmcd1

I do not think that the CA schools are in position to start that level of practice at this time. My guess is the reason for the week delay is that neither the Pac 12 Conference staff nor any lead AD were in a position to answer the hard questions about getting the necessary approvals and setting the protocols for running practices (I posted earlier on the some of the obvious problems). Hard to admit just how incompetent the Pac 12 staff and SC athletic department (that falls entirely on Helton, not Bohn) in particular is. The Big 10 was… Read more »

Steveg
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September 19, 2020 1:18 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

That is pure bull crap, and we all know it. They are only kidding themselves.

Golden Trojan
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September 18, 2020 12:35 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

If you play the other 5 in your division and the winner of the North and South play for the conference champ will just have to do. The Pac12 champ is not going to the playoffs anyway.

Golden Trojan
Major Genius
September 18, 2020 12:26 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

MMMM…Mac N Cheese and Steak!😋

Trojan5
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September 18, 2020 9:35 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Good morning Allen. I know this article is about coaches salary. But I have a comment that even in this hyper polarized political climate will be met with 100% agreement. LARRY SCOTT MUST GO! There is no left-right,or liberal-conservative. There is only LARRY SCOTT MUST GO!

Terrific Tommy
September 18, 2020 10:29 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Allen, I concur. In fact, I’ve rarely ever seen the conferences presidents care that much about sports in general.

Trojan5
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Trojan5
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September 18, 2020 10:40 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

I am not as pessimistic as you, but I agree that it is quite possible the presidents will keep Larry. I am banking on the AD’s and newer presidents exerting influence. At least I hope so.

Trojan5
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September 18, 2020 12:05 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Wilner and John Canzano have mentioned a lessening of confidence in Larry and a more critical attention to his actions. I wasn’t thinking of Folt. I don’t imagine she will be a leader, one way or the other. My thought is more that the guys who hired him are now gone and those remaining are less tied to him.At least that is what I recall Wilner, et al have said. My initial point remains. LARRY SCOTT MUST GO!

Trojan5
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September 18, 2020 1:46 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Dammit Allen. I’m trying to give you hope to hang onto. Work with me. LOL

TrojanRJJ
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TrojanRJJ
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September 18, 2020 12:07 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

You are making a great argument for SC to leave the Pac. As we both know, under Folt/Caruso, that ain’t happening!

Steveg
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Steveg
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September 18, 2020 6:22 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

I am sure Folt is to busy tightening the requirement for blm study requirements and not worrying about the football program saving the cash strapped athletic department.

Steveg
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Steveg
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September 18, 2020 6:20 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

So his chances in your mind are 50/50? Last year I would think they were higher for staying. Seems he is losing his footing, public opinion is going to be the deciding factor I think. These presidents do read the paper.

TrojanRJJ
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September 18, 2020 12:06 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Allen, thanks for the post. I always felt that Carol Folt did not understand SC and the Trojan Family; perhaps unfairly, I view her as the worst type of intellectual: rigid, judgmental, extremely self-righteous, and very political. She has, in essence, declared war on the Trojan Family. As you stated, she and Caruso have alienated a massive amount of alumni. She seems to think that she can simply outmaneuver her political opponents; I think she is in for a rude awakening. There is NO WAY her war on the Trojan Family will not impact recruiting hugely; it is also going… Read more »

Jamaica
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Jamaica
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September 19, 2020 9:45 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

And yet Allen, I don’t see Folt or Caruso sweating, so far, if they ever will. over what flack their decisions have caused so far. I just have a sense they planned these changes that have occurred and waited for what negative responses have come and die down in silence. Their next targets of change will be set in motion and I don’t see anything big enough to stop it unless the faculty and/or students rebel. They are the powers big enough to stop Folt & Caruso. And to think all it takes to tear down a constructive philosophy that… Read more »

TrojanRJJ
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TrojanRJJ
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September 19, 2020 6:42 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Allen, they only tactic that I see working is a total boycott of SC. Recruits need to be told the Trojan Family is dead. If seniors do not get jobs because Trojans stop hiring Trojans, things might change.

TrojanRJJ
Noble Genius
TrojanRJJ
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September 19, 2020 6:38 pm
Reply to  Jamaica

Jamaica, Ideologues never sweat. If I am reading Folt correctly, she views herself as superior to the rest of us. She is on a mission to save SC from its racist and sexist and homophobic heritage. If she fails, it will not be her fault; it will be the fault of the despicable racists, sexists and homophobes. She is without doubt the worst hire in SC history.

TrojanRJJ
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TrojanRJJ
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September 18, 2020 8:38 am

Next question: how does the Pac handle practicing and Covid? What happens if a kid or two tests positive? Are practices to be suspended? And, if the teams need a minimum of six weeks of practice to be able to play, how is that going to work? You practice two days and then have to shut down for a week or so? Assuming the answer is the new testing machines that give results in 15 minutes, does that mean that practices cannot start until every team has such a machine? If so, how many teams have them? And if not,… Read more »

PN4SC
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PN4SC
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September 18, 2020 6:38 am

This whole fiasco begs the question- who is more overpaid, and worse at their job- Clay or Larry? I would pay a large sum of money to have the pleasure of personally firing either one of these incompetent buffoons.
Talk about a race to the bottom. Our conference becomes more irrelevant every day.
SC going independent makes a lot of sense, but with a marxists President, and corrupt leaders like Caruso, I can’t see that as a realistic option.

TrojanRJJ
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TrojanRJJ
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September 18, 2020 8:28 am
Reply to  PN4SC

PN4SC, Amazing isn’t it? It is really stranger than fiction. If SC had competent leadership, it would be planning on leaving the Pac and going independent. Whether I would do it or not is another matter but I would certainly be planning for it. Candidly, when the Pac allowed (cheered would be a better word), the extraordinarily unfair abuse of SC by the NCAA, I would have given my ultimatum to the Pac at that time, but we had Haden as AD and Kiffin as the HC. But that is water under the bridge. At present, I would stay only… Read more »

Jamaica
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Jamaica
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September 18, 2020 9:07 am
Reply to  TrojanRJJ

No question about it. The way the administration treats its football program is like it is an annoyance that they have to bother with and feel if they ignore it, it will just go away. I am not so sure Mike Bohn’s hire was anything more than to quiet down all the noisemakers in Folt’s ears complaining about the decadence of the program. I just don’t see her caring that much about supporting USC football back into a top 10 program. Bohn will eventually get fed up & leave. Will Helton stay until his contract is completely up and how… Read more »

PN4SC
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PN4SC
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September 18, 2020 7:19 pm
Reply to  TrojanRJJ

You are spot on. The school President and BOT don’t give a damn about football or the alumni. Soon the school will have to ask itself- can we afford not to fire Gomer?

TrojanRJJ
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TrojanRJJ
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September 17, 2020 10:15 pm

Am I understanding this correctly? The Big 10 teams were practicing for weeks as if they would play and the Pac, in effect, has not practiced at game level practices since December? So, it is going to take a minimum of six weeks (probably 8) for the Pac to commence playing games in a manner which would protect player safety? And, the Pac did not seek and simply was not prepared to get the required waivers? So the soonest the CA teams can start practicing will be mid next week? So the earliest the Pac can realistically play would be… Read more »

TrojanRJJ
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TrojanRJJ
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September 18, 2020 8:18 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Allen, Thanks for confirming the “stranger than fiction” narrative. I do disagree, in part, that the reason is the Big 10 hammered the Pac 12. What happened is the Pac 12 hammered the Pac 12. The Big 10 has an incompetent bag of wind as its commissioner (my guess is he is gone shortly); granted, Larry Scott is probably more incompetent and a much larger bag of wind, but both Conference Commissioners are buffoons. The difference is the Big 10 has competent ADs and coaches and exist in a totally different political environment, with tOSU, NE, MI, and PSU leading… Read more »

Jamaica
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Jamaica
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September 18, 2020 9:29 am
Reply to  TrojanRJJ

It was just a matter of time RJJ, that a Carol Folt would be hired to run USC. The BOTs, run by a chairman who is full of himself, have lost the charge to keep USC uniquely traditional & independent and not as a follower of present day social politics extremism. Over time, the professors Folt will hire in will mirror her political-philosophical beliefs. Who knows what USC sports will look like by then.

TrojanRJJ
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TrojanRJJ
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September 19, 2020 9:18 am
Reply to  Jamaica

Jamaica, I appreciate the input. I am one that does not accept the inevitability of the “victory of the proletariat.” The ideas that Folt and her cohorts are pushing have been around for at least 250 years and have failed whenever they gain ascendancy. The type of academic political games that we are now witnessing have been around for millennia (you can find them being played at the University of Paris in the 1200’s when Aristotle’s thought was the hot topic rather than Hegel/Marx/Rousseau/Nietzsche thought as is the present hot topic). But, my views are irrelevant. Folt/Caruso clearly control SC… Read more »

Jamaica
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Jamaica
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September 18, 2020 9:31 am
Reply to  TrojanRJJ

It was just a matter of time RJJ, that a Carol Folt would be hired to run USC. The BOTs, run by a chairman who is full of himself, have lost the charge to keep USC uniquely traditional & independent and not as a follower of present day social politics extremism.

Chris
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Chris
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September 17, 2020 8:21 pm

I’d rather they play than not play, so this is good news. But, wow, do we play in the terrible conference lead by terrible commissioner.

TrojanRJJ
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TrojanRJJ
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September 18, 2020 8:29 am
Reply to  Chris

Chris, Do you really think a four to six game season is worth it?

Steveg
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Steveg
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September 18, 2020 6:32 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

It seems that one thing that would suffer the most by not playing would be recruiting. Such indecision and not playing would make kids wonder what is coming next.

ATL D.D.S.
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ATL D.D.S.
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September 17, 2020 7:21 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Just when I was seeing a glimmer of hope of seeing some SC football–clubhouse lawyers pop out.

ATL D.D.S.
Noble Genius
ATL D.D.S.
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September 17, 2020 8:10 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Why start so late? November? What’s the point for the PAC? So we can have some horsesh*t football intramural league?

Golden Trojan
Major Genius
September 17, 2020 5:56 pm
Reply to  UtahTrojan

Boy they should be pissed up in Oregon. The one legit national contender in the conference and Larry Scott screwed ’em.

RialtoTrojan
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RialtoTrojan
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September 17, 2020 5:04 pm

I wonder and bet someone has, but must ask, has anyone compared Helton’s current salary to John McKay (adjusted for inflation)? I remember a time when football coaches had smaller staffs and other responsibilities. I just cannot see how they can justify paying someone of Helton’s low stature as much as they do.
I wish they’d make a settlement offer and boot Helton. Then take their chances with the litigation. I can’t believe anyone would side with Helton’s incompetence.

RialtoTrojan
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RialtoTrojan
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September 17, 2020 5:25 pm
Reply to  RialtoTrojan

I did my best math and using McKay’s salary in the 1975 NFL (2mil over 5 years or 400k a year) and putting it an inflation calculator, his salary would only amount to 1.9 mil.
How is Helton worth more than McKay?

Chris
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Chris
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September 17, 2020 7:23 pm
Reply to  RialtoTrojan

Not worth more, but paid more.

Golden Trojan
Major Genius
September 17, 2020 4:45 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Not surprised, especially in the Pac12, that many coaches and players just shut it down months ago. I say, if you aren’t ready forfeit till you are. Really pathetic lack of leadership from Scott down to ADs to coaches to not stay on course, if nothing else for their physical and skill development.

ATL D.D.S.
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ATL D.D.S.
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September 17, 2020 7:13 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Dear fellow Trojans on our blog here–are any of us surprised that Larry Scott didn’t push his employers to keep fighting for a 2020 season? Are we surprised that the rest of the conference didn’t keep their teams in active practice so if a season was announced, the PAC-12 could be ready in 3 weeks for the delayed season as is the Big 10? Instead, our conference is lagging behind again–maybe we can get around to starting our season by November. The Trojans are part of a train of fools when we reside in the PAC-12. I think we could… Read more »

Golden Trojan
Major Genius
September 17, 2020 3:43 pm

Allen, you’re just throwing chum to the sharks here! Oregon is getting a bargain and USC of course is getting hosed.

Golden Trojan
Major Genius
September 17, 2020 3:58 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Trojans may hope Bama makes that offer yesterday!

Golden Trojan
Major Genius
September 17, 2020 3:55 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

The feckless incompetence in all areas and at all levels of governing on the west coast is beyond belief. But heh, we are all such an enlightened woke people, so superior than the rest of the country.

gametv
gametv
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September 17, 2020 4:30 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

I really doubt USC had a shot at the playoffs anyway, but how about the bowl games? I want to see SC play a nice tough bowl opponent, so we can get a measure of this team that goes beyond the pathetic Pac-12. Last year Iowa proved that we were not up to the task. I want to see whether the new coaches have improved the team at all.

gametv
gametv
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September 18, 2020 8:46 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

I just think that USC is really a bigger question mark this season. We have new defensive coordinators, but will they have enough time to really install their defense and make it work? will AVT return and will the offensive line be better or worse than last year. if it is worse, does that mean that there will be no run game and that Slovis will be under constant pressure? will the GH offense take another step forward in the second year? one big problem is that the 2020 recruiting class was so bad that our talent base took a… Read more »

Golden Trojan
Major Genius
September 17, 2020 4:41 pm
Reply to  gametv

You guys actually think there will be bowl games? They barely exist on the tickets they force onto the schools. No fans, no bowl games.

Terrific Tommy
September 17, 2020 3:05 pm

LOL — Karl Dorrell, @ $3.2 million. Do you realize, Allen, that gives Helton a safety net? 😊

UtahTrojan
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UtahTrojan
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September 17, 2020 3:14 pm
Reply to  Terrific Tommy

I believe Heltons safety net must be compromise pictures of somebody important. USC has certainly not been getting their monies worth. Currently they are being whipped by Oregon on the recruiting front.