Alabama has given a three-year contract worth almost $2.5 million to Courtney Morgan, a key behind-the-scenes staff member and general manager who works with head coach Kalen DeBoer. This move reflects a significant investment from one of the leading football programs in the country, especially as college teams are starting to operate more like professional sports franchises.
The university system’s board of trustees approved this deal on Tuesday. Morgan, who was the first person DeBoer hired when he started as head coach in Tuscaloosa, will earn an average of $825,000 a year, totaling $2.475 million.
This contract could set a new standard for what colleges pay to those who manage personnel departments, a role that is becoming more important as players receive more direct compensation from schools.
Many programs have already hired general managers to handle name, image, and likeness compensation for their athletes or for attracting new recruits.
In recent years, athletic departments have been focusing more on their personnel departments. Most schools, especially in major conferences, have added staff to manage talent acquisition due to the rise in transfers and the funds available for recruiting.
Today, there are many general managers in college football, some of whom were previously known as directors of player personnel.
The role, which once focused mainly on high school recruiting, has now expanded to include scouting and managing transfers. The frequent changes in rosters from season to season mean that having expertise in handling these changes is becoming increasingly important.
