Bohl’s pay raise won’t cost state

laramie» University of Wyoming athletic director Tom Burman said Wednesday he’s confident the university can cover the recent contract extension for football coach Craig Bohl without any additional financial aid from the state.

Bohl is getting a pay raise to $1.4 million per year, starting in 2017. He is currently guaranteed $850,000 a year. The new contract provides for raises that will take his guaranteed salary up to $1.7 million in 2023 and includes additional incentives, such as two $625,000 payments if he remains at Wyoming through the term of the contract.

The coach’s raise comes as the university has eliminated more than 100 staff and faculty jobs because of a drop in state aid caused by the downturn in Wyoming’s energy industry. No university faculty and staff received pay raises this year, although university President Laurie Nichols has said she hopes to offer pay raises next year.

Earlier this year, the 2016 Legislature approved $8 million over two years for recruiting, nutrition and other programs designed to help Wyoming field more competitive sports teams despite cutting spending in other state programs. Most of the money went to football and men’s basketball — sports that generate the most money for the university. Bohl traveled to Cheyenne to testify before lawmakers for the money.

Bohl was hired three years ago and led the Wyoming football team this season to its best record since 2011. The team competed in its first Mountain West championship game and earned an invitation to play Dec. 21 in the Poinsettia Bowl against Brigham Young.