OU Athletic Director Joe Castiglione said if coaches weren't rewarded for their successes on the field or on the court, the athletic department might still be in the financial dog pound.

"While we cannot control the marketplace, we can pay for success or pay for failure," Castiglione said. "However, if we didn't pay for success, or be as proactive as we are, the university would probably be subsidizing the athletic department."

Nineteen coaches overall, six head coaches and 13 assistant coaches, received raises at the June Board of Regents meeting.

Castiglione also received a pay raise from $193,770 to $238,770.

OU men's gymnastics head coach Mark Williams received a raise from $49,000 to $55,000 after winning a national championship this year. This was the Sooners' first championship in 11 years. The raises are an incentive to perform well.

Williams said Castiglione's purpose for salary increases is to respond to the market, where coaches are lured to colleges with better salaries and coaching situations.

He said he has had coaching offers or has interviewed for coaching positions at Minnesota, Michigan and USA Gymnastics.

The athletic department at one time was in the red. Until the 1999-00 season, the department dug itself into a $12 million debt built up over previous years, Castiglione said.

Since then, the financial problems that plagued the department have changed.

The athletic department is currently still in debt. The department is an auxiliary, which means it must support itself without state funding. It also must pay OU for services such as legal advising and human resources.

During fiscal year 2001, Castiglione said the athletic department had set up a 21-year capital loan to erase that debt. As a result, the athletic department is required to pay a minimum $100,000 each year for 21 years. Now in its second year of the loan, the athletic department has paid back a total of $300,000.

"OU's athletic department is one of only a few self-sustaining programs in the country," Castiglione said. "National statistics show only 18 percent of Division I programs will balance their books this year."

The NCAA Web site lists 321 schools in NCAA Division 1.

Castiglione said one reason for the pay increases is revenue increases from $24 million in 1998, to $35 million today.

He said one of the department's goals is to hire and to retain successful coaches.

Head football coach, Bob Stoops will make $2.1 million in his fourth year at the university, according to a statement from OU press secretary Jeff Hickman.

Florida State's Bobby Bowden reportedly is the nation's No. 2 highest paid coach, making $2 million.
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