Those who have written letters concerning salaries of high school coaches apparently do not look beyond the cost.

A case in point, I have a very close friend who attended Clemson University on a football scholarship. He went into the Air Force and served in the Pentagon and planned air strikes for the war in Iraq.

He retired as a colonel and came home to teach in middle school and high school and to coach football. Not every season was a winning one, but he worked with 60 or 70 kids each year teaching them to work hard, play fair and be responsible citizens. He would counsel these students and meet with parents. Most of this was not being taught in other classes. These people have two full-time jobs and deserve more money for their efforts.

After all, without them where would the millionaire college coaches get their recruits?

Ben Busbee Jr.

Columbia