1999 Top college coaches cash in State salaries soar 250 percent in 10 years.
Critics call performance bonuses a dangerous trend.
The spiral troubles those who fear the erosion of amateurs in college sports, a shift in priorities from academics to athletics and a system that puts too much emphasis on winning. The demand is victory, and the way you get victory is by getting the very best coach you think you can get. So it gets to be a spiral upward for those coaches who have successful records. Today, that paycheck wouldn't even rank in the top 20. Not everyone agrees with Canham.