FAMU Trustees today approved a multi-year contract for new head coach Joe Taylorthat will pay him $1.25 milion over five years. Taylor, who previously served as the head football coach at Hampton University the past 16 years, will be paid an annual salary of $225,000 at FAMU. Taylor reportedly made a base salary of $85,000 at Hampton where he compiled a 136-48-1 record.
Taylor was offered in the neighborhood of $150,000 to take the head coaching job at Western Carolina University.
Taylor will make nearly, $100,000 more than former FAMU head coach Rubin Carter. Taylor is expected to get to work after the first of the year.
At FAMU, Taylor will also be paid a $1,000 a month housing allowance from the Rattler Boosters. In comparison, Carter received a $15,000 a year supplement from the Boosters.
Taylor's salary puts him on par with the salary of Pete Richardson at Southern who was among the highest paid coaches in Div. 1-AA.
He better hit the ground running!
ReplyDeleteCoach Taylor will hit the ground running. This man is an outstanding coach and knows what it takes and means to FAMUANS to build a solid football program. We're in great hands now and I applaud Dr. James Ammons for hiring one of the best coaches in America.
ReplyDeleteeason, and broadway was put of there minds to turn an offer down like that....oh well coach Taylor will build a magnificent program i see division 1a comming back again
ReplyDeleteMY MY MY!!!!!
ReplyDeleteBroadway was crazy to turn that down! WOW! Go Taylor!
ReplyDeletethat offer may not have been made to broadway and eason. i'm sure quite a bit of the money is coming from the boosters. ammons & the board may have been trying to send a message to broadway and eason that they indeed turned down a good thing. i can't really blame eason, but broadway? i don't know about him. but anywho, i'm confident with that kind of salary, he knows (and ammons knows) what's at stake. i wish ammons could find some "extra" money to give the professors (who would be glad to get just a few dollars more). not a whole lotta $$, but just a handful would be ok.
ReplyDeletelord have mercy, that's a lot of money. for the university not to have any money and/or are mired in financial madness, we can sure find top dollars to pay people. i ain' hatin', i'm just saying we do what we want to do, when we want to do it. the board gives james ammons carte blanche to do anything he wants.
ReplyDelete5:07, I don't think so. He has worked diligently with this board and have followed appropriateness in his administrative power (unlike the one that shall not be named ever...). Again, these monies may be coming from the boosters who know the profundity of their investment. Plus, the man is a winner. Bottom line, let's not complain if we don't know the whole story. We have had ENOUGH of that!
ReplyDeleteDag, I can't believe Hampton paid Coach Taylor peanuts -- $85,000 annual salary. There had to be some perks involved that bought Coach Taylor to the $125,000 mark. This is sad. I wonder what his starting pay was 12 years ago at Hampton.
ReplyDeleteyes, you're right. ammons has worked diligently with the board for a whole six months. wow. six months. and now the DRS school will be run by the new superintendent, ronald holmes, who just happens to be the brother of Rev. r.b. holmes. board of trustess member. rev. holmes sustained from voting on his brother's $110,000 a year contract. how grcious of him. i still say the board gives ammons carte blanche. no one should complain about anything CVB did. seems like the same thing to me.
ReplyDeleteif my salary jumped $140ks, hell, i'd moved here, too. i wouldn't necessarily call that a "subastantial raise" as taylor has said. that's a whole new danggone new salary. i ain' mad at the taylors. in the meantime, however, poor professors have to work two/three extra jobs and take on extra classes just to keep the wolves from the door.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe Taylor is a $100,000 better coach than Rubin Carter. Where is the beef to pay all these new coaches? We could have gotten Taylor for $50,000 less. Ammons was snookered. He should have had a plan B(Billy Joe indicated his availability).
ReplyDelete12/31/2007 7:17 PM
ReplyDelete^^^
Let it go! You are comparing apples to nuts and you know who the nut is.
Dah-am! How about pay raises for both faculty and staff, some of whom are the "hardest working professionals" in education!
ReplyDeletePlease as someone who works for FAMU alot of Faculty and Staff need to be fired. To many and I mean way to many just sitting on their ass waiting for their drop. Alot don't do SH#% but talk on the phone and do church work. He needs to pay the good workers and kick the rest to the curb
ReplyDeleteHow do we know that pay raises are not on the horizon? IF none of us is privied to the information, then I suggest that we refrain from so much speculation. We sound so schizophrenic. Let the man do his job. We need to stop all the whining and learn how to SUPPORT for a change. And to compare him with the unnameable one...geesh! Give me a break! Let's grow up FAMU! This is a new day!
ReplyDeleteSomebody needs to call Ammons out on the selection of RB's brother.
ReplyDeleteHe wasn't even close to being the recommended selection.
A good dude got screwed in this deal and believe me you haven't heard the end
with that kind of salary...not only should he hit the ground running; but i hope he runs a tight ship (respect of coaches & players, aggressive recruiting, graduation, etc..) and he better pull some wins out his a** too. The $225k base does seem a bit excessive. A base of $150-$175 with incentives for winnning MEAC and levels of playoffs would have been better. That $85k at hampton was downright criminal
ReplyDeleteAmmons & the board can pay a football coach more than most deans? Is this an educational institution or a sports organization? This is again miss management of states money. Why isn’t Ammons firing these FAMU deans that have no scholarship and hire scholarly deans and professors to help our students and faculty? They are his old friend’s.
ReplyDeleteAny university’s leadership that creates a culture that makes hiring decisions based on family, friendships and race will become blind to true academic excellence. Many students at FAMU are dropping out, failing to get jobs, transferring and changing grads. Most of the FAMU schools have out dated courses, equipment, professors, deans and directors. The FAMU students deserve the best professors to prepare them for employment. Can FAMU get some 250,000 deans? SASC is watching all of this.The new SACS president is not like the pass one, which lowered the accreditation standard for FAMU.
Don't let us turn into AMMONS HATERS so soon. Point blank we don't know what is going on behind the scenes. Let him do his job! We don't know what pivotal decisions have been made. Let's wait to see in Jan-Feb. You may be very surprised. Chill out, children!
ReplyDeleteWe are we gonna get this amount of money? We only offered Broadway 150k, and now we give Taylor $225!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhy not give Broadway that kind of money!
8;22, you're quite defensive about folks getting raises. you're probably one of the employees who need to be fired. a hit dog will holler.
ReplyDelete11:35--We don't need to know what "pivotal decisions" have been made. The ONE "pivotal decision" that has been made that we know is that Taylor is going to be paid a lot of money. Whatever other decisions have been made don't matter. We'll know about them in due time.
ReplyDeleteFAMU taps Holmes to head DRS
ReplyDeleteFlorida A&M University's board of trustees approved a contract Monday for a new leader to take over the institution's troubled kindergarten through 12th grade research school.
Ronald Holmes was approved as superintendent of the school that recently received an F from the state. He will be paid $110,000 a year as part of a three-year contract that starts Jan. 21
However, Holmes' selection was almost delayed when his relationship to trustee Rev. R.B. Holmes Jr. was disclosed. Holmes, who participated in the teleconference, recused himself from the vote, leaving the board without a quorum.
"In the interest of full disclosure, I want to report that Dr. (Ronald) Holmes is the brother of trustee R.B. Holmes," FAMU President James Ammons said. "However, trustee (R.B.) Holmes was not involved in the search process, nor the selection of Dr. (Ronald) Holmes as superintendent."
Holmes' recusal nearly forced trustees to postpone the vote.
"I guess we'll have to schedule another teleconference meeting," trustee board chairman Bill Jennings said.
FAMU Chief of Staff Rosalind Fuse-Hall attempted to reach two other trustees. At the last moment, Robert Brown of North Carolina called in. Ronald Holmes was unanimously approved for the job.
"I'm just excited we'll have a superintendent," trustee Pamela Duncan said.
The school, known as the FAMU Developmental Research School, has been without a permanent superintendent since June 29, when Cheryl Jennings retired. FAMU's interim Provost Barbara Barnes told trustees last month that there were eight applicants for the job. Ammons said the list of finalists was established by a committee of university administrators, DRS faculty and community members.
Holmes, who has an undergraduate and a doctorate degree from FAMU, is an assistant principal of Banneker High School in College Park, Ga. Ammons said Holmes' specialty is in "test-score enhancement," an area of expertise that is critical for the school.
Test Scores at Dr. Holmes School.Ammons said Holmes' specialty is in "test-score enhancement," an area of expertise that is critical for the school.
ReplyDeleteAmmons need to do his homework!!! Read the below information "Test Score Enhancement"
http://reportcard2006.gaosa.org/k12/reports.aspx?TestType=QCC&ID=660:176
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2007/07/06/0706aypchart.html
Out of 8 applicants, there were 3 finalists interview. Holmes brother was the worst interview in the history of FAMU.
ReplyDeleteAmmons basically said damn the committee and task force and picked RB's brother out of the "garbage" pile.
You would think that the Board would have been burned enough by CVB to allow this to happen.
Please support Dr. Ammons & FAMU and stop complaining so much. Some of you people act like a bunch of barn slaves.
ReplyDeletethat is the most stupidist comment.
ReplyDeleteI support Dr. A but I support FAMU and doing that requires that everything that is done is in the best interest of the university. It was a shady move and why subject the university to unnecessary scutiny for the sake of puffing up RB's already sizable ego and his bsby brother's weak azzzz career. It stinks
Bottom Line, the BOT is doing his bidding and not being diligent
I dont give a damn about no ONE person at FAMU from the President to the Trashman, I care about FAMU the UNIVERSITY that I LOVE and have supported with my money! I think it STINKS that Holmes brother is the head of DRS and it is more of the same! 10:21 only weak students and people period quit. FAMU has some of the best professors in the state and country and they work for little of nothing and that is sad! I am working to become one of those underpaid professors and I am doing it the correct way so this Holmes thing pissess me off!!
ReplyDeleteThe truth is a assistant principal with 10 years of experience can become a
ReplyDeletesuperintendent, at FAMU, if your brother is on the board. I guess no principles with 10 or more years of experience applied for the position, without having a brother on the board. The current leadership at FAMU has the same old vision that has brought FAMU down. (Hiring decisions made based on family, friendships and race) “Excellents with Caring …about hiring your unqualified friends and family member.”
Education: Dr. Ronald W. Holmes received a B.S. in Business Education from Florida A&M University; M.Ed. in Business Education from Bowling Green State University; a master's degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from Florida A&M University; and a PH.D. in Educational Leadership from Florida A&M University.
Professional Experience: Dr. Holmes has worked in the capacity of Assistant Principal at Benjamin Banneker High School for the past ten years.
Hobbies and Interest: Dr. Holmes enjoys attending church and designing innovative programs at church to prepare students for standardized tests His latest initiative is a ministry entitled STAN (Standardized Testing at Antioch North) which prepares students in the Atlanta Metropolitan area for the science portion of the Georgia High School Graduation Test.
Dr. Williams from Miami should have gotten the job. What happened?
ReplyDeleteDr. HOlmes' resume' is so NOOOOOT impressive! This is an interesting move by Ammons and the BOT!
ReplyDeleteThis is the FAMU way. Dr. Ammons can hire anyone he please. If the students and faculty suffer, so what...we are in this to make money. This is a business.
ReplyDeleteThen our problem is STILL THE BOT! I don't believe in the blanket statement of the President being able to hire anybody who he wants to. That's a little sophomoric. I do think this is not the best candidate for the superintendent. This guy is not the real deal. But let's keep it moving! I hate that this appointment might give the CVB faithful a reason to raise their heads again. Geesh! Get over it!
ReplyDeleteI think the coach is a good choice and that the salary is comparable to a lot of DIV I schools. He has to work. Let's see if he is worth it. I'm sure his contract is detailed with "YOU BETTER WIN" scenarios. When Alabama wanted to win again, they paid 2 million to get rid of Shula and 4 million to get Saban. This is the big business of sports, people. And nothing makes money faster for the school like a powerhouse of our an athletic program. This is the NOW of what is happening at universities. Trust the president. The Holmes' move is disappointing, but hopefully we are not just supporting Ammons because he does ONLY what we want him to do. We must be in it to win it. And we are GOING TO WIN!!!!
According to the Democrat, this selection was made by university administrators, DRS faculty members, and community members. Thus, although we may not agree with this appointment, Ammons is not the only culpable one in this appointment. Holmes was not a solitary Ammons' appointment. Obviously, many people were in favor of this appointment. It just smells because he is Rev. Holmes' brother. BTW, is there a list of the other candidates' dossiers? This one will be on the ENTIRE FAMU COMMUNITY, not just the president.
ReplyDelete4:59 PM
ReplyDeleteAllow me to correct you.
The committee recommended another canidiate. The President chose RB Holmes brother despite their recommendation of another man. Ammons went on his own on this one and he has full cupability. I want to remind you of how RB and Corbin rolled Gainous under the bus after he did their bidding and it blew up on FAMU. The more things change, the more things stay the same
I stand corrected. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteBenjamin Banneker is a very good school. It's predominantly black and was named a National Blue Ribbon school by the US Department of Education. If you look at the programs in place (BBHS), the direct correlation in student recruitment for SBI and the College of Eng, then it is no secret what direction we are looking to take the DRS.
ReplyDeleteI don't know either of the other candidatse personally. Can someone provide some info on the other candidates and what their schools have accomplished and their bios?
We have had enough of the Castell hand-picked, NOVA degreed folks from the bottom. Damn if they didn't almost single-handledly destroy FAMU.
Uhh. How about this? Ammons chooses Holmes' brother in exchange for votes on more pressing issues. Sometime you gotta lose a battle in order to win a war.
ReplyDeleteDr. Wms ,although disappointed, likely understands this appointment was political. Doesn't mean Wms won't get something else later. Maybe something even better.
7:09, as much as that doesn't sound fair, you make a very good point. It is very immature to think that these kind of politics do not exist in EVERY FACET of real life. I agree with that assessment.
ReplyDeleteOne of the other candidates was an asst principle at these schools until 6 months ago:
ReplyDeleteBooker T Washington
In 2006, 11% of the students scored at or above proficiency in reading on the FCAT state examination and 39% scored at or above proficiency in math.
After receiving the Smaller Learning Communities Grant, the school organized into three schools-within-a school, each with a distinct Academy focus. The Academies include Entrepreneurship and Finance; Health, Child Development and Social Justice; and Foreign Language and Humanities. Booker T. Washington is a Secondary School Reform school, and offers students an eight class schedule to include a rich elective program, remedial reading and math, as well as Advanced Placement and Advanced Academics. Booker T. Washington Senior High School is an "I CHOOSE" school of choice, accepting students into the Academy programs through an application process.
Miami Central HS
Just put it like this- Miami Central HS FCAT score is an "F".
We want and deserve better at FAMU DRS. As a parent, I am tired of the DRS scoring Ds and Fs on the FCAT score and labeled as a D or F school.
I too am a supporter, financially, of FAMU and I am disappointed that faculty members with PhD's, and all other appropriate credentials in their fields barely make $50,000what is right about that?
ReplyDelete12/31/07 7:21 you are absolutely correct. I know professors who have to work outside the University because the University does not pay, but the University gives these employees a hard time. I say FAMU needs to pay up or shut up. I also suggest to faculty members who are under paid, continue working because you and your families need to eat too, just like the Taylors!
I will continue to support FAMU financially, but nothing is different, and I guess I expected more with a new President, who is still using the same old tactics.
What is the mean of professors salaries at HBCU? It is np secret that educators across the board are undepaid. College coaches have always made more than professors. 'Tis not strange. The entire system must change. This problem is not isolated to Famu.
ReplyDelete^^^^
ReplyDeleteThank you! FAMU leads the way in pay among HBCU's. Better pay across the board is needed at ALL HBCUs. This problem even exist among PWI.
Let's stop complaining and try to do our part to make things better for all.
The president will be on the job 6 months come tomorrow. We have made tremendous progress in those 6 months.
I agree. We really need to understand that polity of administrative procedures. There are bigger fish to catch and fry. Look at the last 6 months. Ammons has shut some really big mouths who were wishing for FAMU's demise. From the CVB faithful, BOG, and SACS, he has done an outstanding job. We are sooo quick to turn on our leaders. We are glad when Moses gets us out of Egypt away from Pharoah, but we complain and want to stone him when we are in the wilderness. Let's stick together, people!
ReplyDelete^^^Exactly! This isnt an isolated phenomenon at FAMU! Do you know how many head football coaches at PWIs make millions of dollars more in salary than the tenured professors at the University? It's a commonly exercised practice all over the country. I personally dont agree with it, but that's LIFE! QUESTION: Do these same professors cry when BUBBA the freshman offensive lineman they taught in ENC1101 eventually goes off to the professional league, and becomes a multi million dollar super star athletes? It's the same concept to me.
ReplyDelete2:36, you are stupid as hell to make such a foolish comment. we know that universities are big businesses, but the goal is to teach our students and to send them out in the world fully prepared academically so that they can hold their own with anyone and to make a positive contribution in society. the Holmes moves STINKS Like stale raw left out in the sun for forty days and forty nights.
ReplyDeleteHere's maturity: If the appointment does turn the school around, will you admit that you were wrong? We do not know what will happen. People with stellar credentials don't always mean they fit the climate and the demographic for success within a community.
ReplyDeleteAs far as education and athletics, doctors make more than the teachers that taught them. Lawyers make more that the profs that taught them. Students go on to make more than the teachers who taught them. It's the way the system is set up. I hate it but that's reality. Taylor has the tenure and the record to be making what he does. Should he make less than a 5 year professor simply because he is a coach? He has the ability to make the university his salary. Do professors have that ability? Not most. Most profs do not do the work that merits their salaries. Salary is based upon previous performance and present potential. Like it or not, that's the world. Academics are the most important thing at the university, but often it is the totality of college life that causes students to chose the school.
What do you expect????? We kept a person on the board that was present and accounted for doing the demise of the school. What you actually thought the BOT was formed to keep FAMU "out of trouble." HA.....laughable!!!!! Who elects a "local" religious pastor to a governing board of a state funded university anyway? Only at FAMU!
ReplyDeleteHe might as well get his hustle on. FAMU is ripe for the picking! FAMU is nepotism at its finest. Take lessons.
" Salary is based upon previous performance and present potential."
ReplyDelete^^^^^^^
HA!!!!!! Not at FAMU!!!!! Try friendships, relationships, family, hookups, favors and political affiliations when you're talking about FAMU salaries!
AMEN, 1:15! I'm a professor at FAMU, preparing to enter Spring semester, and I tell you, you & I both know a thing or two about the list you've given. I got my position the hard way: the position was advertised, I applied, was interviewed, and eventually got the job. I didn't know a soul at the university. But I tell you what: I ain' making any big and serious $$, but I sure know quite a few professors who got the hook-up and/or are buddies with someone who knows someone and/or are relatives, and are pulling in the $$. You speak the truth, sister (or brother)!
ReplyDeleteIf you professors aren't happy at FAMU, then get the hell on. I'm the parent of a FAMU student. I can't tell you how many times he's gone to his professors' offices and they're never there. On my job, you get paid for results (merit). So start producing and things will take care of themselves.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe college professors are on a blog complaining about their salaries. Damn!!
I find it quite disheartening that this individual who interviewed for the FAMU DRS job and did not get is spreading all of this negativity amongst their associates/friends.
ReplyDeleteIn turn these same individuals along with this person think its okay to bash FAMU on this forum.
Well I am glad this person did not get the job. At the first sign of adversity, this same individual who claims to love FAMU will be bad mouthing it on the highest of 7 hills.
Who would want to follow a leader with this type of character? Haven't we learned that we can't attack the leadership publicly without attacking and hurting FAMU?
I'm also a professor at FAMU. Let me just share something with you. Life is very good at FAMU. People always want to earn more than they are making. That's just human nature. FAMU's salaries are very competitive and the work environment is second to none. I can't think of anywhere else that I would love to work. And just to set the record straight, I got my undergraduate, masters, and PHD from white colleges. We have some very extremely intelligent students and professors at FAMU. Surely I need money to survive just like anyone else, but it is so satisfying to me to be able to educate our young people so that they can be successful in the world. If we do our jobs as faculty members, more students will come, research dollars will flow into the university, and it will be a win-win situation for all of us.
ReplyDeleteFAMU is on probation because of mismanagement of financial records by the previous administration. In just SIX months, Dr. Ammons and staff have cleaned up the financial issues here at FAMU. Our academics rank way up near the top. People, please don't believe every negative story that you read about FAMU. FAMU is the best!!! I'm actually looking forward to the return of our students on Monday so that I can make a positive influence in their lives.
Back to the subject at hand. Coach Taylor will earn his money and then some. This man is a very successful coach and he will bring the kind of football and exposure to FAMU that we haven't seen in a longggggggg time. He will put in many hours with our young men and will produce some of the most outstanding citizens and athletes this country has never seen. Lets support Coach Taylor and stop looking for things to complain about. If you have a salary or university issue, take it up with the university.
SUPPORT FAMU....The No. 1 College in America!!!
Let's move on.
ReplyDeleteI for one support whatever decision Dr. Ammons made and let's get to the business of uplifting FAMU, the DRS and everyone associated with getting our university moving.
I would like to see video of the press conference.
ReplyDelete...college of love and charity, we gather by thy noble shrine...
ReplyDeletewho's complaining about salaries? some of you people need lessons in critical reading. all i read was a comment, and comments don't always mean complaining.
ReplyDeletecoaches salaries are not paid by taxpayer dollars. Coaches are strickly paid for by Booster Donations, Ticket/apparel revenue, TV Deals, and athletics fees.
ReplyDeleteSome of you chumps need to go back to University Management 101 before you go running out there talking crazy mess about state money and deans.
Coaches are paid based on what they bring in by winning. Joe Taylor wins us a National Title, and he'll be worth every penny.
Thank you 1/02/08-9:28, it seems that some on this board have went on a rant about the hires that Ammons has chosen to lead in various positions at the University. 1st, as it pertains to the Head Football Coach, I think a process like this should have been done long ago, that way everyone knows who the presidents choice truly is (no hiding behind some fake search process). 2nd, the state of Florida is only paying Taylor $125-$150 thousand, that is the max the state pays coaches, therefore the other hundred thousand will be supplement from the boosters and the possibly the FAMU Foundation. And don't worry about that price tag, because if Taylor does what Ammons and Hayes thinks that he is going to do, he will eventually pay for himself. Simply put, the more wins you have the more fans come to the games, the more fans that come to the game, more money made for the athletic department, and a possible increase in membership and support for the FAMU boosters. In other terms high risk high rewards, no risk no rewards. Finally, I think Taylor's hire turned out great for FAMU. You are talking about a program with a great name, now we have a coach that is one of the best on this level. Look for a quality coaching staff to be in place within the next few weeks, and look for a quality football team next fall. This hire could equal that of William Billy Joe’s of the early 1990’s; a successful coach coming to FAMU and returning her to a glorious place. This time, when the wins began to pile up, I hope that Alumni and Booster pile up the revenue so that we are able to sustain that level of success. My prediction, MEAC Champs 2009, National Champs 2011!!!
ReplyDeleteAmmons needs his butt whipped for giving that man all that money before he's proven himself at the school. Yeah, yeah, I know, I know. He did what he did at Hampton,but this isn't Hampton. And I think Ammons has put the cart before the horse.
ReplyDeleteI am a Rattler that happens to teach at Hampton. I can believe that they only paid him $85,000. Hampton is cheap. We as a faculty are underpaid.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...Ammons needs his butt whipped for giving that man all that money before he's proven himself at the school. Yeah, yeah, I know, I know. He did what he did at Hampton,but this isn't Hampton. And I think Ammons has put the cart before the horse.
ReplyDelete1/06/2008 3:31 PM
^^^^
NuRattler, please come and get this fool.
NURATTLER,
ReplyDeleteWHY ARE YOU CENSORING comments on the blog regarding Holmes and Ammons?