Working Paper: NBER ID: w22120
Authors: Christopher Avery; Brian Cadman; Gavin Cassar
Abstract: We analyze the promotions and firings of NCAA Division 1 college basketball and college football coaches to assess whether these coaches are rewarded for the academic performance of their players in promotion and retention decisions. We find that an increase in Academic Progress Rate, as measured by the NCAA, for a college team in either sport significantly reduces the probability that the coach is fired at the end of the season. We find little to no evidence that an increase in the Academic Progress Rate enhances the chances of advancement (in the form of outside job offers) for these coaches.
Keywords: NCAA; coaches; academic performance; career concerns; promotion; firing
JEL Codes: I20; I23; J24; M51
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Academic Progress Rate (APR) (I23) | Probability of coach being fired (C12) |
| Academic Progress Rate (APR) (I23) | Promotion of coaches (M51) |