https://bluegoldnews.com/west-virginia-mountaineers/athletic-director-salaries-whos-on-top-whos-getting-it-done-in-big-12/
Quick. Which FBS conference has the highest average pay for its athletic directors?
If you said the SEC a logical assumption prepare for a bit of surprise. According to Athletic Director U, which covers all things in the administration of collegiate athletics, it's the Big 12.
The Big 12, in achieving its top average, is unsurprisingly boosted by the presence of Texas' Chris Del Conte ($2,3000,000) and Oklahoma's Joe Castiglione ($1,733,333). Del Conte is second nationally (behind only Notre Dame's Jack Swarbrick), while Castiglione is fifth. The shocker, though, is Texas Tech's Kirby Hocutt, who stands fourth nationally at $1,850,000 per year. All three of the Big 12 top earners make more than any SEC AD.
Two more Big 12 ADs top the seven-figure mark: Baylor's Mack Rhoades ($1,554,897 9th nationally) and Kansas' Jeff Long ($1,500,000 11th). That gives the Big 12 five of the 25 ADs in the nation which make more than $1 million per year.
The rest of the Big 12 includes Mike Holder (Oklahoma State $950,000 28th), Jeremiah Donati (TCU $938,473 29th), Jamie Pollard (Iowa State ($903,000 32nd) Shane Lyons (WVU $870,000 39th) and Gene Taylor (Kansas State $650,000 59th).
here's one view on which Big 12 schools are getting the best return on their investment. There are many factors involved in this decidedly subjective look, which also includes time in the current job and the ability to hire and retain top tier coaches.
Top Tier: Joe Castiglione (Oklahoma), Shane Lyons (WVU), Mack Rhoades (Baylor), Mike Holder (Oklahoma State), Jamie Pollard (Iowa State)
Castiglione heads a powerhouse athletic department that raises money, packs in fans, and competes and wins on a national stage. There's no question he's the top dog in the league.
Lyons delivers more per dollar of his salary than any other Big 12 AD. He's a strong voice on NCAA committees, and has provided excellent leadership and growth from day one of his tenure.
Rhoades supervised the rehabilitation of the shattered Bear program following its sexual assault scandal, and has made good hires during his tenure. He's getting a lot of money, but he's earned it.
Holder is a veteran leader who has overseen great success in football and many Olympic sports at OSU, including wrestling, tennis and golf.
Pollard has had excellent success with his coaching hires in major sports, and like Lyons, does a great deal in a geographic region that isn't exactly overflowing with population or cash.
Good, But Some Questions: Chris Del Conte (Texas), Jeremiah Donati (TCU), Gene Taylor (Kansas State)
Del Conte was excellent at TCU, and it might be puzzling to see him in this group. But he has a lot of work to do at Texas, which is the most under performing program in the Big 12 overall when looked at in the light of its available money, facilities and support. Will his leadership get UT's signature teams back in contention for league titles?
Donati is in much the same situation a bit more time is needed to make a firm judgment on his tenure, which began when he relaced Del Conte. He's raised some big money and kept teams on the successful road laid by Del Conte, but now has to do it on his own.
Taylor has made some good hires in his three years at K-State, but needs more success from football and basketball to move up to the top tier. Again, his evaluation is as much a wait-and-see question than anything.
Work To Do: Jeff Long (Kansas), Kirby Hocutt (Texas Tech)
Long has an accusation-racked men's basketball program, a football program that's among the nation's worst, and he's pulling down $1.5 million. Ouch.
Hocutt has seen a resurgence in his men's basketball and track programs, and baseball is strong. However, football is floundering, and his paycheck seems large in terms of some of the returns.
Quick. Which FBS conference has the highest average pay for its athletic directors?
If you said the SEC a logical assumption prepare for a bit of surprise. According to Athletic Director U, which covers all things in the administration of collegiate athletics, it's the Big 12.
The Big 12, in achieving its top average, is unsurprisingly boosted by the presence of Texas' Chris Del Conte ($2,3000,000) and Oklahoma's Joe Castiglione ($1,733,333). Del Conte is second nationally (behind only Notre Dame's Jack Swarbrick), while Castiglione is fifth. The shocker, though, is Texas Tech's Kirby Hocutt, who stands fourth nationally at $1,850,000 per year. All three of the Big 12 top earners make more than any SEC AD.
Two more Big 12 ADs top the seven-figure mark: Baylor's Mack Rhoades ($1,554,897 9th nationally) and Kansas' Jeff Long ($1,500,000 11th). That gives the Big 12 five of the 25 ADs in the nation which make more than $1 million per year.
The rest of the Big 12 includes Mike Holder (Oklahoma State $950,000 28th), Jeremiah Donati (TCU $938,473 29th), Jamie Pollard (Iowa State ($903,000 32nd) Shane Lyons (WVU $870,000 39th) and Gene Taylor (Kansas State $650,000 59th).
here's one view on which Big 12 schools are getting the best return on their investment. There are many factors involved in this decidedly subjective look, which also includes time in the current job and the ability to hire and retain top tier coaches.
Top Tier: Joe Castiglione (Oklahoma), Shane Lyons (WVU), Mack Rhoades (Baylor), Mike Holder (Oklahoma State), Jamie Pollard (Iowa State)
Castiglione heads a powerhouse athletic department that raises money, packs in fans, and competes and wins on a national stage. There's no question he's the top dog in the league.
Lyons delivers more per dollar of his salary than any other Big 12 AD. He's a strong voice on NCAA committees, and has provided excellent leadership and growth from day one of his tenure.
Rhoades supervised the rehabilitation of the shattered Bear program following its sexual assault scandal, and has made good hires during his tenure. He's getting a lot of money, but he's earned it.
Holder is a veteran leader who has overseen great success in football and many Olympic sports at OSU, including wrestling, tennis and golf.
Pollard has had excellent success with his coaching hires in major sports, and like Lyons, does a great deal in a geographic region that isn't exactly overflowing with population or cash.
Good, But Some Questions: Chris Del Conte (Texas), Jeremiah Donati (TCU), Gene Taylor (Kansas State)
Del Conte was excellent at TCU, and it might be puzzling to see him in this group. But he has a lot of work to do at Texas, which is the most under performing program in the Big 12 overall when looked at in the light of its available money, facilities and support. Will his leadership get UT's signature teams back in contention for league titles?
Donati is in much the same situation a bit more time is needed to make a firm judgment on his tenure, which began when he relaced Del Conte. He's raised some big money and kept teams on the successful road laid by Del Conte, but now has to do it on his own.
Taylor has made some good hires in his three years at K-State, but needs more success from football and basketball to move up to the top tier. Again, his evaluation is as much a wait-and-see question than anything.
Work To Do: Jeff Long (Kansas), Kirby Hocutt (Texas Tech)
Long has an accusation-racked men's basketball program, a football program that's among the nation's worst, and he's pulling down $1.5 million. Ouch.
Hocutt has seen a resurgence in his men's basketball and track programs, and baseball is strong. However, football is floundering, and his paycheck seems large in terms of some of the returns.