Many San Diegans are asking if San Diego State Aztec football coach Brady Hoke's contract is worth it. Currently, Hoke makes about $700,000 per year, which in comparison to other coaches, like Alabama head coach Nick Saban's multi-million dollar contract, is mere pennies.
On Monday, Hoke told us he's one of the few people in sports who isn't concerned with a quick paycheck, announcing that he's staying at San Diego State. Hoke agreed to a contract extension through the 2015 season. Financial terms of the deal were not released, but you have to believe the boosters kicked in a few extra dollars. The Associate Press, however, did report that he was given a "bump in salary."
In November, Hoke addressed reports he was being courted by at least two other schools looking to fill head-coaching vacancies. Both Minnesota and Indiana officially talked to Hoke, but that's as far as it went. Minnesota went with Northern Illinois head coach Jerry Kill. Indiana is still looking.
In the two years Hoke has been with the Aztecs, he's worked to improve the football program as a whole, May said. Hoke has also worked to increase the salaries of his support staff and updated the team's facilities, among other things. May said Hoke's goal is to provide stability for his team and staff.
Let's look at what Hoke has done in his time at SDSU: He has doubled the number of wins from the 2009 season and quadrupled the total from 2008, when SDSU went 2-10 under Chuck Long. The Aztecs went from a 4-8 team in 2009 to an 8-4 team in 2010, which May said is the highest number of wins the school has had since joining the Mountain West Conference. The 2010 season also marks the first time the Aztecs have beat a ranked opponent in several years.
On Dec. 1, the Aztecs announced that the team would play against Navy in the 2010 San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl on Dec. 23. This is the school's first bowl appearance since 1998. A win over Navy would give SDSU the most wins in a season since 1977.
Fittingly, Hoke was named the 2010 Mountain West Coach of the Year.
