OU coaches', athletic director's pay cut 10%
NORMAN — With revenue diminished from the cancellation of spring sports, and uncertainty looming for the future, OU's athletic department announced budget cuts of approximately $13.7 million late Wednesday.
The cuts include a 10% salary reduction for staff making $1 million per year or more.
That reduction affects athletic director Joe Castiglione and several coaches. Among them are football coach Lincoln Riley, defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, men's basketball coach Lon Kruger, women's basketball coach Sherri Coale and softball coach Patty Gasso.
The cuts affect the total salary for the coaches.
For fiscal year 2019, total operating expenses for the department were nearly $158 million, with about $163 million in total operating revenue.
The cuts come as athletic departments around the country work to stay afloat in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Iowa recently announced an approximately $15 million budget cut. Hawkeyes athletic director Gary Barta took a pay cut of “more than 30%” while several coaches took 15% cuts. Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said recently their department is projecting a budget deficit of more than $26 million. Several head coaches at the school will
take 10% pay cuts beginning Aug. 1 through the end of the fiscal year.
OU is in a better position than many schools, as the school is one of the few Division I athletic departments to regularly run a budget surplus while taking no money from student fees, state funds or other institutional support.
Further cuts may be necessary in the future, though, Castiglione said in a release.
“All of us understand that a number of circumstances will unfold in the weeks ahead,” Castiglione said.
“Our staff continue to monitor our expense and income projections closely and we'll take other actions, as necessary.”
Castiglione said the budget for the 2019- 20 fiscal year was balanced.
No financial aid or services to student-athletes are being affected by the cuts, including to those athletes whose eligibility was extended due to the March shutdown of spring sports.
Student- athletes in those sports — baseball, softball, track and field, tennis, golf and rowing — can apply for an additional season of eligibility.
“It's a testament to our staff and our practices that we were able to balance our budget for fiscal year 2020. We have always benefited from excellent teamwork in our department, but our staff has come together as never before. I am very proud of our people.
“Our goal is to have all activities operate as safely and efficiently as possible. That said, we are planning on a number of contingencies and protocols that will leave us prepared for any number of scenarios.”
The budget modifications also account for COVID- 19 expenses, including testing and the cost of increased safety measures across athletic facilities.
In a radio interview on SportsTalk1400 in mid- June, Castiglione estimated that tests would cost between $75 and $100 each, with antibody tests costing slightly less than that.
Castiglione estimated that testing the entire football team would cost between $ 15,000 and $18,000, though he said he hoped the prices would drop as more testing was made available.
OU announced Wednesday that 111 football players and 72 staff members had been tested.