Amid the huge financial fallout of the coronavirus pandemic, the Tennessee athletic division — like dozens of others throughout the nation — approached its assistant soccer coaches this fall and requested if they’d take momentary pay cuts.
Working backs coach Jay Graham and extensive receivers coach Tee Martin agreed, with the latter describing it as “the suitable factor to do.”
The eight different full-time assistants declined.
“I’m very grateful to all of the athletic division staff and households which have taken a wage discount and are displaying help to our division throughout such a troublesome time,” Tennessee athletics director Phillip Fulmer mentioned in a press release on the time.
“Sadly, there have been some contract staff who didn’t conform to a discount for their very own causes.”
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Related conditions have unfolded in athletic departments throughout the higher echelon of school soccer. In accordance with paperwork obtained by USA TODAY Sports activities as a part of its annual evaluation of assistant coaches’ compensation, there are at the least 10 Energy 5 soccer packages wherein a number of assistants took a pay minimize, and a number of didn’t.
These colleges make up roughly 20% of public colleges within the Energy 5 and span convention affiliations, from Cal to Florida State to Rutgers.
At Oklahoma State, as an example, 9 of the 10 full-time coaches on Mike Gundy’s employees didn’t take a pay minimize. And at Texas, three assistants’ salaries aren’t being decreased — whereas the others signed amendments stipulating that they are going to be repaid earlier than their contracts expire.
USA TODAY Community reporters contacted directors at three colleges the place at the least one assistant coach isn’t taking a pay minimize. An Oklahoma State spokesperson didn’t reply to a request for remark. Rutgers spokesperson Hasim Phillips declined remark.
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In the meantime, at Tennessee, head coach Jeremy Pruitt — who was not requested to take a pay minimize after forgoing a increase supplied in a contract extension — mentioned in November that assistant coach pay reductions had been “a fluid scenario.” However when requested final week if any of his assistants had reversed course and agreed to take a pay minimize, he demurred.
“We’ve actually been targeted on what’s happening proper now,” Pruitt mentioned, “and we’ll concentrate on that when the season is over with.”
The college confirmed that Graham and Martin stay the one assistants who’ve accepted the pay minimize.
All of Tennessee’s assistants have made a separate concession, nevertheless. They agreed to forgo bowl bonuses within the occasion the Volunteers (3-6) make a postseason look.
The college’s athletic division, which is dealing with a projected income shortfall of $40 million attributable to COVID-19, carried out a tiered pay-cut plan for workers making $50,000 or extra, starting on Nov. 1 and persevering with by means of June 30. Spokesperson Tom Satkowiak mentioned the cuts affected 155 at-will staff.
Whereas athletic departments can unilaterally implement pay cuts for many of their workforce, a few of their highest-paid staff — similar to soccer coaches — are insulated by their contracts.
In most circumstances, the college should amend a coach’s contract to legally scale back their pay. And the coach has a proper to refuse.
“I feel folks have a tough time wrapping their minds round, while you get to Division I basketball and soccer, it’s a very totally different world,” mentioned agent Bryan Blair, who represents Tennessee tight ends coach Joe Osovet, amongst different school coaches.
“Every little thing comes right down to the contract. You don’t go messing with the contract except we’re renegotiating the contract, in my view.”
No less than one college has revised its contract language because the begin of pandemic to permit for potential reductions.
Agreements between Texas A&M and its assistant soccer coaches, which had been signed in October, included sections particularly titled “COVID-19 Provisions.” Along with waiving incentive bonuses for a fiscal 12 months ending Aug. 31, 2021, the coaches acknowledge that the college might have to make extra monetary cuts, and if that happens, they comply with “negotiate in good religion to implement an acceptable wage discount” and to “take part absolutely” in such negotiations inside 14 days of the college offering discover of the necessity to negotiate.
Blair, in the meantime, mentioned he didn’t advise Osovet on whether or not to simply accept Tennessee’s request for a pay minimize. The tight ends coach is within the first 12 months of a two-year contract and attributable to make $225,000 this 12 months.
“It’s my place to offer recommendation, however it’s not my place to inform (a consumer) he ought to take much less cash for actually no cause,” Blair mentioned.
“If I’m going to take much less cash now, it might be for one thing on the again finish – possibly one other 12 months assured on the contract. However there’s obtained to be some give and take. It’s by no means simply give, it doesn’t matter what the scenario is.”
Contributing: Chris Iseman and Berry Tramel
Observe the reporters on Twitter @ByBerkowitz, @Tom_Schad and @btoppmeyer.
The post Not all assistants take COVID-19 pay cuts appeared first on Correct Success.
source https://correctsuccess.com/finance/not-all-assistants-take-covid-19-pay-cuts/
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