Cael Sanderson leaves ISU for Penn State

[TCisMYhero]

It has been confirmed that Sanderson is leaving Iowa State (alma-mater where he completed a perfect college career, becoming their first 4x national champion) for Penn St. It is rumored that his deal is worth $500k per year for 5 years ($2.5mil/5yrs). Any wrestling fans have any thoughts on this?

Personally I think it is bad for our state, as the more talent that leaves the state (and Cael Sanderson is a hugely marketable name in the state of Iowa, especially among high school wrestlers), the less elite our programs become.

edit: linkage
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=4077986

[Franks Tanks]

It has been confirmed that Sanderson is leaving Iowa State (alma-mater where he completed a perfect college career, becoming their first 4x national champion) for Penn St. It is rumored that his deal is worth $500k per year for 5 years ($2.5mil/5yrs). Any wrestling fans have any thoughts on this?

Personally I think it is bad for our state, as the more talent that leaves the state (and Cael Sanderson is a hugely marketable name in the state of Iowa, especially among high school wrestlers), the less elite our programs become.

edit: linkage
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=4077986


Penn State is a wrestling sleeping giant-- this will wake the beast. PA has a glut of top flight wrestlers but they get distributed among Penn State, Penn, Lehigh, Pitt, Lock Haven, CLarion, Edinboro and out of state schools. Cael will be able to attract the best of PA to attend Penn State and they should dominate. He took th job because he knw the opportunity there is amazing.

[Hansel]

It is close to Jersey preps like Blair as well

[TCisMYhero]

He took th job because he knw the opportunity there is amazing.

And he will make $200k more per year than any other coach in the country.....xcoffeex

[Franks Tanks]

And he will make $200k more per year than any other coach in the country.....xcoffeex

Surely that helps-- but I you dont leave your alma mater solely for money.

[ngineer]

Wow. Big news. I know the PSU had had internal problems this year with discipline issues. Word was the former coach had lost control of the team. They underachieved this year, but also had a lot of injuries to go with the other matters.

Sanderson will certainly be able to recruit. PSU has been nibbling at a national championship for years, but hasn't been able to get over the hump. With Santoro going the Lehigh this past year, PSU could see another challenger rising with the already existing Edinboro and Cornell not that far away.

As opposed to football, wrestling recruiting is different since there is no 'pro' level to ascend to. Those who aspire to the Olympics will be drawn to certain programs that provide such preparation and those who see careers beyond wrestling will be drawn to those programs that will meet those needs. And there will be those who will be drawn to a program where they will get a realistic chance to wrestle as opposed to being a sparring partner for 3 years.

Will be interesting to see what staff he assembles. Santoro brought John Hughes of PSU last year to Lehigh with him and he has been a great addition.

[TexasTerror]

Surely that helps-- but I you dont leave your alma mater solely for money.

Iowa State release says Sanderson told them that it would be easier to win a national championship at Penn State with the talent and resources.

[TCisMYhero]

Iowa State release says Sanderson told them that it would be easier to win a national championship at Penn State with the talent and resources.

Funny, just read something like this on Panthernation.com... Good point made also... Something along the lines of well what is he going to tell them? "I'll miss it here, but I'm going to have a SWEET house!" $500k speaks pretty loudly to anybody

[JayJ79]

Surely that helps-- but I you dont leave your alma mater solely for money.

so you're saying that if you had a job at your alma mater (coaching or otherwise), you wouldn't be at all interested if another position opened up elsewhere and they offered you that much more money?

[Franks Tanks]

so you're saying that if you had a job at your alma mater (coaching or otherwise), you wouldn't be at all interested if another position opened up elsewhere and they offered you that much more money?

The guy is banking it either way. Even if he was making 250k a year at Iowa State that is a fair sum, and its nearly impossible to spend tha much money in Ames, Iowa unless you're blowing lines for breakfast.


If I was the HC of the Lafayette FB team I would leave for very few places. As long as the money provides a comfortable lifestyle isnt happiness and professional satisfaction more important?

For most coaching at your alma mater is a dream and the pinnacle of the profession. The guy is making a great living either way. Sure the money played a part, but this guy cares more about winning I suspect.

[TCisMYhero]

The guy is banking it either way. Even if he was making 250k a year at Iowa State that is a fair sum, and its nearly impossible to spend tha much money in Ames, Iowa unless you're blowing lines for breakfast.


If I was the HC of the Lafayette FB team I would leave for very few places. As long as the money provides a comfortable lifestyle isnt happiness and professional satisfaction more important?

For most coaching at your alma mater is a dream and the pinnacle of the profession. The guy is making a great living either way. Sure the money played a part, but this guy cares more about winning I suspect.

Google Jamie Pollard, their AD. This guy is an idiot. Much unhappiness with the job he's doing and I suspect this may be the final nail in the coffin for him at ISU.

[ElSissy]

I think the rumors of a $2.5 million / 5-years deal are probably untrue. Paterno makes $500k annually and his program actually produces revenue.

[Hansel]

Google Jamie Pollard, their AD. This guy is an idiot. Much unhappiness with the job he's doing and I suspect this may be the final nail in the coffin for him at ISU.


First Gene Chizik- now this


Brilliant!

[Hansel]

http://www.messengernews.net/page/content.detail/id/514538.html?nav=5017

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090417/SPORTS020603/90417029/0/SHAWN_JOHNSON

[Franks Tanks]

I think the rumors of a $2.5 million / 5-years deal are probably untrue. Paterno makes $500k annually and his program actually produces revenue.

Joe has refused raises over the years, or he would be making much more. He lives in a house that is probably worth 250k max-- he doenst need or really care about the money.

[ElSissy]

Joe has refused raises over the years, or he would be making much more. He lives in a house that is probably worth 250k max-- he doenst need or really care about the money.

I understand that, but if you compare the rumored Sanderson deal to other non-revenue producing sports at Penn State, the rumors just don't make sense. The men's and women's volleyball programs have 3 national championships between them in the past 2 years, but I guarantee you that neither volleyball coach makes more than $100k in base salary. Penn State has a number of other coaches that have been very successful in terms of producing conference championships, high national rankings and all-americans, but none of them make even close to what is rumored to be Sanderson's deal.

[ngineer]

They get some very decent crowds for their dual meets--probably averaging 5,000 or more, and it's has been one of their 'flagship' sports in terms of traditional success. Obviously, Sanderson didn't feel he was getting sufficient support in various areas at ISU. It has to be serious to leave ones' alma mater, regardless of the money.

[kardplayer]

...

If I was the HC of the Lafayette FB team I would leave for very few places. As long as the money provides a comfortable lifestyle isnt happiness and professional satisfaction more important?

For most coaching at your alma mater is a dream and the pinnacle of the profession. The guy is making a great living either way. Sure the money played a part, but this guy cares more about winning I suspect.


so you're saying that if you had a job at your alma mater (coaching or otherwise), you wouldn't be at all interested if another position opened up elsewhere and they offered you that much more money?


... It has to be serious to leave ones' alma mater, regardless of the money.

Especially considering this is essentially a lateral move (with apparently some additional resources).

[Big Al]

The long and the short of it is I think it just got harder to recruit potential players out East. Penn State should be a strong draw for top talent.