ASU’s cost of firing Graham likely to carry $12M pricetag

Arizona State University’s decision to cut ties with six-year head football coach Todd Graham won’t be cheap.

The cost to buy out Graham — fired one day after the Sun Devils beat rival University of Arizona to wrap up the regular season — will likely top $12 million.

The 52-year-old earns $3.2 million a year on his current four-year contract, which runs through June 2021.

The money to cover Graham’s payout will come from Sun Devil Athletics revenue, according to ASU.

“That’s on me to fix,” Ray Anderson, ASU’s vice president for athletics, said at a Sunday press conference. “No state money. No student fees. We will

figure that out.”

Firing suspected

Hints that ASU officials were approaching Graham’s future with caution began to surface months ago.

The university in June declined to grant Graham a one-year contract extension, something ASU and UA head coaches of football and men’s basketball typically receive annually.

The extensions indicate strong support from the universities but can leave schools on the hook for more money should they fire a coach without cause.

By not extending Graham’s deal, ASU reduced the amount it would have to pay him if officials decided to part ways with him this season.

Anderson said in June that contract extensions aren’t automatic and Graham’s contract “wasn’t rolled over because it didn’t need to be rolled over.”

The payout comes as ASU’s athletic department is pulling in more money.

Revenue jumped to a record $94.6 million for fiscal year 2016, up 12 percent over the previous year.

Students began paying a mandatory $75-per-semester fee toward athletics in the 2015 school year, a controversial move that spurred backlash from some students who said they didn’t have time for or interest in athletic events.

The fee generated $10.5 million in revenue in fiscal 2016, up from $9.9 million the previous year.

Anderson stressed Sunday that ASU would not use student fees or taxpayer money to cover Graham’s payout.

‘No regrets’

Graham was 46-31 in six seasons with the Sun Devils. He led them to the 2013 Pac-12 South title and is credited with ASU’s first back-to-back 10-win seasons in more than three decades.

The Sun Devils struggled during his final three seasons, however, mainly because of poor defense, shaky recruiting and staff turnover.

At Sunday’s press conference, Graham said he felt blessed and grateful to have coached at ASU.

“I have no regrets,” he said. “I’m proud of where we leave this program.”

As for his future, Graham said he “will coach until they throw dirt over the top of me.”