Coaching Salary Disparity and Team Performance: Evidence from the Football Bowl Subdivision

Abstract

Salary disparities and their impact on performance have long been a topic of research and debate in both the business and sport sectors. However, no studies to date have examined the impact these disparities have in the collegiate football setting within coaching staffs specifically. The purpose of this study was to determine how intra-staff salary disparity impacts team success, using salary data for the years 2010- 2017 and the Gini index as the measure of dispersion. Results indicated that pay disparity had no impact on wins. Rather, on-field metrics were found to be the primary drivers of success.