Since the football season's conclusion, Ball State University athletics director Tom Collins negotiated a possible contract extension that could increase coach Brady Hoke's base salary by a minimum of $24,599.
Collins said Tuesday he would like Hoke to be paid in the top half of the Mid-American Conference, which would require a minimum 15 percent pay raise from last year's $164,289 base salary.
Collins would not predict a deadline for ending the negotiation, but any decision to raise Hoke's salary must be made before next year's pay period begins on Jan. 31, according to Hoke's contract.
Collins said he was pleased with the success the Cardinals' football program experienced this season.
"Brady has done a good job here, and we'd like to reward him," Collins said.
In order to be paid in the top half of the MAC, Hoke must receive the sixth-highest base salary in the league. That would mean Hoke's annual salary would exceed $188,888, the amount University of Akron coach J.D. Brookhart earned this year.
Hoke received midway through the 2006 season a contract extension that continues through 2011 and paid him a base salary of $164,289 from Feb. 1, 2007, to Jan. 31, 2008. Adding in other income and postseason incentives, Hoke is set to receive $179,634 this year.
Despite being one of three coaches in the MAC to lead a team to a bowl game, Hoke's salary is the 10th lowest of 12 known figures in the MAC, according to USA Today. The salary for Temple University coach Al Golden, whose program joined the MAC East Division this season, was unavailable.
Hoke, who played at Ball State from 1977-80, said his primary concern is coming to a deal that benefits all parties involved with the negotiations.
"I just want to do what's best for the school," Hoke said. "However it all works, I want to do what's best for Ball State and the football program."
Even though Cortlan Booker, who served as the Cardinals' senior captain this season, admitted he doesn't know much about coaching salaries, he said there is no reason for Hoke not to be one of the better-paid coaches in the MAC.
"Pay the man," Booker said. "If he wants more money, pay him. The program's success level is going to keep going up and up, and there's been no signs of it slowing down. He should be up there toward the top of the list in the MAC."
While Booker pointed at Hoke's on-field accomplishments as reason enough to deserve a raise, he also said he would like to see his coach of five years rewarded for the type of person he his off the field.
"Coach Hoke is as real as you can get for a football coach," Booker said. "He really enjoys being here at Ball State, and he definitely builds close relationships with his players. I'm glad I was fortunate enough to play my whole career under coach Hoke."
With his success, Hoke's name has been thrown into the mix as a possible candidate for a couple head coaching vacancies around the country. Collins said there is no clause in Hoke's contract that would prevent the coach from talking to other universities regarding job openings.
Since informally speaking with University of Michigan athletics director Bill Martin in late November, however, Hoke said he has not spoken to any other athletics directors in regards to other coaching opportunities.
"We have a lot of unfinished business that we would like to take care of," Hoke said. "We've gone to a bowl game, and now we want to go win a bowl game. We still want to win a MAC Championship. That's been the expectations since I've been here."
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