Arizona Athletic Director, Head Coaches Take Voluntary Pay Cuts
May 6, 2020, 11:59 AM
(Photos courtesy of Getty Images)
(Photos courtesy of Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The University of Arizona athletic department has staff members taking 20 percent pay cuts due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Among those staff members taking pay cuts include Athletic Director Dave Heeke, football coach Kevin Sumlin and basketball coach Sean Miller.
The university released a statement on Wednesday about the staff members taking pay cuts.
“Arizona Athletics is a proud member of the University of Arizona community, and we are committed to continuing our work to address the economic hardships of this unprecedented crisis. In accordance with the University’s financial mitigation plan, senior leadership and all head coaches are taking salary reductions consistent with the University’s plan. Director of Athletics Dave Heeke as well as head coaches Adia Barnes, Jay Johnson, Sean Miller and Kevin Sumlin have voluntarily offered to take 20 percent salary reductions. We will overcome these immense challenges together with compassion and determination because that is the Wildcat Way.”
Statement from Arizona Athletics pic.twitter.com/0gxyK2aQo8
— Arizona Athletics (@AZATHLETICS) May 6, 2020
According to Arizona basketball beat writer Bruce Pascoe of the Arizona Daily Star, the pay cuts of Arizona’s top five highest paid coaches with save the school a total of $1.46 million.
The pay cuts of Arizona's top five highest paid coaches will save UA a total of $1.46 million, which is actually just about what the department is estimated to lose through June 30 (much more if football delayed or canceled of course).
— Bruce Pascoe (@BrucePascoe) May 6, 2020
Pascoe is also reporting that the Arizona athletic department is taking the most pay cuts among the Pac-12 schools that have announced their cuts. Colorado, Oregon, Oregon State and Washington State are taking 5-10 percent cuts for top coaches. USC AD, head football coach Clay Helton and head basketball coach Andy Enfield are each giving $1 million combined back. The cuts for Miller, Heeke and Sumlin add up to $1.33 million.
The pay cuts for Arizona's coaches are, so far, the most in the Pac-12. Oregon, OSU, WSU and Colorado have all announced cuts between 5-10% for top coaches while LA Times said USC AD, Helton, Enfield giving $1 million combined back. Cuts for Heeke, Sumlin, Miller total $1.33M
— Bruce Pascoe (@BrucePascoe) May 6, 2020
Another school in the west region that is having their football staff take salary reductions but isn’t in the Pac-12 is the Boise State football program.
Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports. You can download and listen to the podcast, here.
