You will never find a coach who earns more in a lower division in German (real) league compared to an higher one.
there was a coach at least before two years in second div, who earned much more then probadly 15 of the 18 first division coaches.
Also i wouldn't be so sure about Meeks, who coached Göttingen last season etc.
Also i wouldn't say, thatteam invest there money after the same scheme also incolleges, some would pay more for enviroment andoother more for coaches. The variaty also in the NBA is big, yes richer club often pay more sicne they can and this investment bring them more then it cost. They don't double up offers, just because they can they pay it since it makes sense.
As already written in another post - Pitino is coaching in a parallel league that cannot be compared to the NBA.
It is not a lower league, but just different...
which have much less money then a NBA coach, and is clearly lower from the level ;) but sicne the training and fame is more important at college level, the colleges tend to spend a lot to trainer. Didn't you say, that training in top leagues is unimportant, so the conclusion would be that small league where it is important after u had to pay more like in reality ;)