TB is successful because of his single-mindedness of purpose. It is a peculiar trait of wildly successful people. TB would not waste time or thought on something outside of his control and outside of his purpose. He leaves that to internet posters like you and me.

Tom earned his raise, certainly. But do you know how many schools participate in full-scholarship, D1 wrestling? Compare that number to football, and then compare that number to D1 football (and then D1 basketball). Then compare all of those numbers to NCAA D1 men’s volleyball. Tom Brands, as much as we love him in the Heartland, is closer to Al Scates at UCLA (men’s VB) than he is to John Wooden (men’s BB).

I love Tom and Iowa wrestling, but his universe is hard to compare to KF’s (or TL’s).

how does he compare to O’Keefe?

and was among the top ranks before this raise, too. I have no doubt that he will remain in the upper echelons of coaching pay for as long he remains at Iowa.

But wrestling and football aren’t in the same financial universe, even at a place like Iowa. Wrestling very well might be more popular and lucrative at Iowa than anywhere else in the country… but it still doesn’t compare to the amount of money that football brings in.

Relative to his peers, I’m pretty sure that Brands is very well compensated — but his peers are guys like Cael Sanderson, J Robinson, and John Smith, not Kirk Ferentz.