A Different Perspective - Incentive Bonuses

[BillyC80]

If we spend $5,000,000 for our roster, let’s say an average of $500,000 per player for 10 players, and we win only 16 games out of 31, and don’t even make the B1G tourney, we would have paid an average of $31,250 to each player for each win, for essentially a failed season.

The crazy thing is, with just 4 more wins, we would qualify for the B1G tourney and most likely for the NCAA tournament as well.

Why not provide an incentive that kicks in for every win above 16 wins, something like $10,000 per player per win. That would mean, at 20 wins, we’d pay out incentive bonuses totaling $400,000. Wouldn’t that be attractive to a big donor who wants to see Rutgers bball succeed?

Edit - adding this comment for clarity: the incentive bonuses are not used as a recruiting tool — the players would have already signed for guaranteed money (the $5Million spend I referred to above). This bonus pool is strictly used as reward money for winning more games, and would be earmarked as such by the whale who donates those funds.

 

[superfan01]

Yawn. No good players would go for that. They want guaranteed money.

 

[Nycrusupporter]

Good luck with that.

 

[BillyC80]

Yawn. No good players would go for that. They want guaranteed money.

Huh? Read my post again, or maybe I was unclear. The $400,000 is bonus money above and beyond the amount they already agreed to play for.

In other words, it’s not used as a recruiting tool, but as a reward for performance (more wins) once you join the team.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

I think that makes sense....trick is how do you make it binding for donors?

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Would it then get very tricky if donors hedge themselves by making bets, taking the OVER for wins or odds of making NCAAs

 

[BillyC80]

I think that makes sense....trick is how do you make it binding for donors?

Donor puts the money into the incentive pool before the season starts, earmarked for that purpose only (to reward wins above a predetermined number). The money is released to each player as each bonus win occurs.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

Donor puts the money into the incentive pool before the season starts, earmarked for that purpose only (to reward wins above a predetermined number). The money is released to each player as each bonus win occurs.

I like it. And if the money is left over it gets rolled for the same purpose the following year. I might set the bar at 17 wins though and clearly exclude post season games in tournaments outside of the regular NCAA bracket.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

Would it then get very tricky if donors hedge themselves by making bets, taking the OVER for wins or odds of making NCAAs

Not really. I don’t think it would be a matter of getting the money back. It would be donated in perpetuity for this set purpose. It wouldn’t be a primary recruiting tool but rather a nice add on perk to throw out there and would only get paid out in the event that the team succeeds. In theory, the pot would keep getting bigger and bigger following down years (even if contributions slow as long as they don’t completely stall). Imagine the pot we would’ve had available by the Covid year?

 

[RacPac12]

i wouldn’t be surprised if schools start to get creative. I wonder if teams without a huge NIL war chest will start to “tank”. In the tank year only spend rev share and collect NIL for a 2 year period to try to field a competitive team in year 2. There is no roster continuity in the current structure anyway so might as well try to use any advantage to be competitive some years as opposed to trying to hit the lottery every year.

 

[BillyC80]

I like it. And if the money is left over it gets rolled for the same purpose the following year. I might set the bar at 17 wins though and clearly exclude post season games in tournaments outside of the regular NCAA bracket.

Yes, rolling over any unused funds makes good sense. A whale donor or donors wouldn’t mind that at all, as it gives them the option to simply let their original donation ride until it’s depleted, or add to it each year.

My sense is that big donors to college sports programs have 2 goals in mind. They want to support their alma mater (or state university) and they also want to win. Wealthy business owners and entrepreneurs generally value incentive compensation as a motivator.

 

[LETSGORU91_]

Not a good idea. Pay them, but give them more money for something they should already be doing?

 

[NickRU714]

Not a good idea. Pay them, but give them more money for something they should already be doing?

Nearly every atheltic contract includes performance bonuses.
Players and coaches.

You do make a good point though.
Shouldn't Schiano and Pike be trying to make bowls and the NCAA Tournament anyway?

https://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/...-greg-schiano-earns-bonus-heres-how-much.html

https://www.nj.com/rutgersbasketbal...pikiell-could-get-with-march-madness-run.html

 

[BillyC80]

If I had to wager one way or another, I’d be willing to bet that incentive compensation will be part of future contracts, but imo it has to be tied to team wins, not individual stats.