There’s nothing like humor when it comes to university presidents. One humorous story comes from the U.S. Naval Academy where the equivalent of the college president is the Superintendent who is is always an admiral in the Navy. John Feinstein, sports columnist for the Washington Post, recounted a great story.
This story is set in 2002 when Vice Admiral John R. Ryan served as the academy’s superintendent. It seems at the time that the Navy football team had not won a single football game the previous season and was looking for a new football coach.
An up and coming coach, Paul Johnson, interviewed for the head football at Navy. Johnson, known for his innovative and highly effective triple option flexbone offense, was never short on self-confidence. During Johnson’s interview for the head football coach position, negotiations between Johnson and Admiral Ryan had begun to stall.
“What it’s going to take, Coach?” Ryan asked when negotiations stalled. “What do I have to pay you to get you to coach my football team.”
Johnson gave Ryan a number and the Admiral was stunned.
“Young man,” he said. “I’m a three-star admiral in the United States Navy and I don’t make anywhere close to that kind of money.”
Johnson replied:
“Well, Admiral, I guess you got into the wrong business.”
Admiral Ryan paid Johnson the money, and Johnson went on to become one of Navy’s greatest football coaches.
– from the pen of Dr. Percy Trappe
The Academic Anchor 
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