I have stayed out of this but have a definite opinion, that is likely different than some. When in Oklahoma, and I know some don't like hearing that, and I am not saying it is better than Kansas in any way so let's not even go there, but many clubs paid their coaches. Clubs that hosted tournaments, often made enough money to pay the coaches some at the end of the year. I think with our club it was somewhere around $7,000 per year, and other clubs paid just as much if not more. Our fees, when considering we didn't purchase a USA card was about $35 per year per person, and scholarships were available so if you didn't have money it was no big deal but there was an application process. Our head coach was a former wrestler at Arizona State and most of the kids’ coaches had significant college experience. The assistant coaches got some money, and there were the many volunteer coaches who were volunteers. Our club, our coach Keith used about half of the money he was paid to take all of the kids, around 100 of them, to all night Laser Tag and a BBQ dinner each year. I am sure he still had money left over but frankly we didn't care.

Here is my thought, just because someone gets paid, and I don't know Boo's School and am not implying their coaches do, how does that take away from their love of the sport? Does that mean that every person that does a job hates it because they get paid? Why is it that we would put down anyone that gets paid for what they do and what they love doing? It seems that from tournaments to now coaches, anyone making money must be evil. I continue to hear Jack Roller's name come up, but the reality is Jack runs a business that does quite well, but he also gives quite a bit back and in the long run, the sport and many wrestlers benefit for it because of his willingness to do the work he does. I challenge, Jack has done more than many realize, while it is easy to talk about him making money, have you ever thought about all of the tournaments he has done where he lost his shirt?

I don't care if coaches get paid, and if a club chooses to pay their coaches, if that is the case, good for the coach. I don't think that implies any less love for the sport.

Think of the logic that is critical, in America of all places that finds fault with someone making money for something they do. The implications of that argument, in life, are simply just not logical. In fact, I hope some people would make money from their knowledge, after all of the years they have put in the sport it seems to me like they deserve it. Purler, Akin, Chertow, Gardner, and numerous others deserve what they earn or get paid for regarding their knowledge and work. Unless any of you with professional or skill knowledge is giving away all of your time and effort in any particular area where you have expertise, are doing so, we have to evaluate the logic of the argument that it is wrong for a coach to get paid, or the argument that only those volunteering their time love the sport. I just don’t think those arguments hold water.

Now if a club can find all of that expertise, can find all of that wealth of knowledge in someone who is volunteering their time and money then fine, that is a perfect road, but I would personally, never begrudge anyone for making a little money for the work they do.