One Husky To Another: Geno Auriemma Tries To Come To Jim Calhoun’s Rescue In Salary-Gate

Here is an excerpt from the Philadelphia Daily News about some unsolicited assistance Connecticut men’s basketball coach Jim Calhoun is getting from a familiar source in the wake of the press-conference spat heard around the country:

Connecticut women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma came to the defense of men’s coach Jim Calhoun yesterday, a day after a heated exchange between Calhoun and an activist over the coach’s seven-figure salary.
Auriemma, who recently signed a 5-year, $8 million deal, said he doesn’t think it’s fair to ask someone who has worked as hard as Calhoun whether he deserves the money he makes, especially during a postgame news conference.
“I think it’s unfair in this setting and I would venture to say it’s unfair in any setting,” Auriemma said. “How do you answer questions about money, about your personal life.”
Auriemma pointed out that the coaches’ salaries come mostly from funds the athletic department has raised.

Auriemma is flat out wrong. As basketball coaches you are employees of the state and you are accountable to the citizens of the state. We expect transparency from our state employees and state employees are expected to submit to a high level of transparency in regard to salary. This is not the private sector, Geno. This is not a question about your personal life. No one is expecting you to necessarily expose what you’re doing with the money, but there is an expectation that what you make is going to be on the public record. I do agree with Auriemma, however, in that the setting for the question was unfair, but to say it was unfair in any setting is incorrect. Auriemma asks, “How do you answer questions about money, about your personal life?” Answer: If the questions is about your salary (and you’re a state employee like Calhoun is) you answer it honestly or refer people to the place where they can get the answer (Human Resources). Under the circumstances, I think Calhoun handled the questions better (a lot nicer) than a lot of us would have answered them.

Philadelphia Daily News:
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/sports/20090223_Auriemma_defends_coaching_salaries.html