Pascrell: Why Does Brian Kelly Get Millions, His Players Nothing?

WASHINGTON, DC — The video of Brian Kelly dancing with his top recruit, quarterback Walker Howard, may have been awkward, but was it as uncomfortable as a sitting member of Congress inquiring about your personal finances?

Louisiana State University's new head football coach is one of two, alongside new University of Southern California coach Lincoln Riley, who signed massive contracts to move to new schools in recent weeks.

Those contracts didn't sit right with New Jersey Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr., who, in his role as Chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight, questioned whether they were consistent with the tax-exempt status of the university's which awarded them.

Pascrell penned letters to the presidents of both universities, asking for information that proves they are operating within the regulations for their tax-exempt status, and also invoking the chasm between coaches salaries and unpaid student athletes.

"This week on national signing day, thousands of young students agreed to play sports for free for university programs paying literally tens of millions of dollars a year and giving free houses to their coaches. These exorbitant contracts to sports coaches from schools that receive federal tax-exempt status demand answers for the taxpayers that help fund these institutions," said Pascrell.

"My letters today are beginning the work of seeking those answers and our subcommittee will remain focused on this issue and further possible abuses of the tax code by schools enjoying tax-exempt status giving exorbitant contracts to athletic coaches."

Kelly will be the highest paid public university coach in America, with total contract benefits reaching $95 million. Reports suggest his yearly salary, including supplemental compensation, is $9 million in 2022, steadily increasing yearly until 2031, when it reaches $10 million.

Additionally, Kelly will receive a $500,000 bonus each July of his contact, and another $500,000 bonus each season where LSU is bowl eligible, which is almost a yearly guarantee as one of the top football programs in the country.

In sum, Kelly will receive approximately $1,350,000 in annual max incentives, as well as an interest-free loan of 20 percent of the purchase price of Kelly’s primary residence (up to $1.2 million) and two vehicles or two vehicle allowances of $1,000 per month.

Riley's deal isn't so bad either.

Reports say the former Oklahoma coach will earn $110 million over the course of his contract. Additionally, USC will buy him a Los Angeles home for $6 million and give him unlimited use of a private jet.

“I write today to request important information about how the university’s lucrative athletics program is furthering the educational purposes for which LSU receives tax exemption… [R]ecent reports about compensation that [your school] will pay its football coaches have raised significant concerns about whether the university is operating consistent with its tax-exempt status,” Pascrell wrote in his letters to the presidents of LSU and USC. “It is unclear how such lucrative compensation contracts further USC’s overall educational mission and benefit your student body as a whole.”

He continued:

“These contracts also present a stark contrast to the benefits received by the university’s student-athletes, whose grants-in-aid each semester pale in comparison to their coaches’ compensation. Student-athletes make an enormous commitment of time and effort as team members, but it is the coaches that are profiting handsomely from their labor.”

Read Pascrell's letter to USC here, and LSU here.