Should college coaches be evaluated and compensated in terms of educational goals
(teaching performance) or commercial objectives (wins and losses, money taken at the
gate, or publicity accorded to the team or institution)? Should there be a limit on coaches’
salaries at universities? Should the decision be left to each school? Justify your answer?
3. Based on the course materials, do you believe you can confidently say that playing
competitive sports helps developed good moral character in young people or not? Explain
your answer. What moral lessons have you learned from participating in sport?
Sample Answer
College coaches should be evaluated and compensated based on a hybrid model that balances both educational and commercial objectives. The current system, which heavily favors commercial metrics like wins and losses, is fundamentally flawed because it often undermines the academic mission of the university. However, ignoring commercial objectives entirely would be naive, as the revenue generated by successful athletic programs often funds other sports and academic initiatives.
Educational Goals: Evaluating a coach's "teaching performance" would involve assessing student-athlete academic progress, graduation rates, and personal development. This model aligns with the core purpose of a university, which is education.
Commercial Objectives: This model, which is currently dominant, focuses on tangible results like wins, championships, and revenue from ticket sales and media rights. These metrics are easy to quantify and are directly tied to a program's financial success and brand recognition.
Ultimately, the development of good moral character is not an automatic outcome of playing sports; it is a direct result of the moral climate created by coaches, parents, and the broader sports community.
Moral Lessons from Sport
From my personal experience playing competitive team sports like basketball, I've learned several critical moral lessons:
Humility in Victory: Winning with grace and respect for the opponent is just as important as the victory itself. I learned that rubbing a win in a rival's face only poisons the well and breeds resentment. A true sportsman acknowledges the effort of the losing team.
Resilience in Defeat: I learned that failure is not the end; it's a lesson. Losing a tough game taught me to analyze what went wrong, take responsibility for my mistakes, and work harder to improve. It's the ability to get back up after being knocked down, both physically and emotionally, that truly defines a person's character.
Teamwork and Self-Sacrifice: I learned that individual talent is useless without a team. Sometimes, the most important play is the one that doesn't get you a score but sets up a teammate for success. It taught me to prioritize the group's needs over my own ego and to find satisfaction in a collective victory.