When a State School's Football Coach Earns More Than the Governor

The Kansas City Star recently compiled a list comparing the salary of the best paid football coach in a state-funded school with the salary of that state's governor.

In every state (except Alaska and Vermont which have no state-funded college football teams), the best paid coach earned more than the governor, theoretically the most important job in that state.

Some interesting data points from the list:

• Average best paid colllege football coach in a state makes $1.3 million per year
• Average governor makes $124,000
• Best Paid Coach: Nick Saban, Alabama football, $4 million
• Worst Paid Best Paid Coach: John Stiegelmeier, South Dakota State football, $115,000
• Best Paid Governor: Arnold Schwarzenegger, California, $207,000 (Schwarzenegger gives back all of his salary)
• Worst Paid Governor: John Baldacci, Maine, $70,000
• Biggest Margin: Alabama, $3.9 million (Governor Bob Riley makes $113,000)
• Smallest Margin: South Dakota, $9,000 (Governor Mike Rounds makes $106,000)
• Average Margin: $1.2 million in favor of coaches

But the numbers don't mean tax payers are placing a greater value on college football coaches than governors since the bulk of coaches' salaries are paid through licensing and broadcasting deals and not financed by tax dollars.

This leads to an interesting question: If governors were paid in a free market scheme, who should be the best paid governor? Which governor has added the most value to the lives of his or her constituents?

(Hat tip: The Sports Economist)

Related:
- Million-dollar coaches move into mainstream (USA Today)