AD Anderson to receive contract extension

Arizona State Vice President for Athletics Ray Anderson will receive a contract extension in the near future.

ASU President Michael Crow told azcentral sports Tuesday, “We’re going to extend him. I’m very happy with Ray, how he’s performing. He’s brought great coaches, great fundraising, great leadership to what we’re doing. He’s a tremendous asset to ASU.”

Details still need to be completed for a contract extension.

Anderson, 63, is going into his fourth full year as ASU athletic director and is currently under contract through Feb. 4, 2019. His base salary is $642,600 and his contract includes lucrative bonus opportunities for athletic and academic achievement by ASU athletes.

“It’s certainly validating when your president says publicly that he wants to keep me,” Anderson said. “We’ll work on the details on that and hopefully an announcement will be sooner than later. But I’m certainly pleased that he feels that way.

“This is my home and my place. Buffy (his wife) and I love it here. It’s a good match and, we believe, culture fit. There’s just so much opportunity here to serve our athletes and be of service to our community. We’re thrilled.”

Crow and Anderson met with the media Tuesday on the eve of ASU’s 2017-18 athletic year, which begins with a home soccer match against Ohio State on Friday. The football team kicks off at home against New Mexico State on Aug. 31, trying to break a two-year streak of losing seasons.

“Losing records over more than one year in any sport are unacceptable,” Crow said. “You have to look at what the reasons are and the dynamics, but (football) coach (Todd) Graham completely understands that his very successful start at ASU has got to be realized again.”

Graham’s teams were 28-12 from 201214 and 11-14 since (39-26 overall). He is going into his sixth season with five new assistant coaches including both coordinators and four years left on his contract after not receiving a one-year extension as he had in the past.

“We’ve got tremendous athletes, new coordinators, new thoughtful additions to the coaching staff,” Crow said. “Coach Graham is completely energized. I don’t think it’s possible for him to be un-ener-