WEST LAFAYETTE — College athletics departments, especially those in the major conferences, are facing significant revenue losses due to the pandemic. If games aren't being played, there's no ticket, concession, or broadcast money.
At Purdue, Head Football Coach Jeff Brohm, Men's Basketball Head Coach Matt Painter, Women's Basketball Head Coach Sharon Versyp and Athletic Director Mike Bobinski have each agreed to voluntary 20% salary cuts.
The announcement was made Tuesday. The four will also forego any incentive compensation over the 12-months beginning September 1. As part of their salary reduction, these four, along with other coaches and senior administrators, have announced their plan to pledge $1 million to the Purdue "More Than A Game" campaign on Purdue Day of Giving, September 9.
“As we face unprecedented medical and financial uncertainty, we’ve been focused on strategies to limit the impact on the support we provide our student-athletes, and that best protect the long term interests of coaches and staff,” said Bobinski. “Our current reality required that some uncomfortable and difficult decisions be made and I’m grateful for the understanding and resilience shown by our entire team of coaches and staff.”
Other Purdue head and assistant coaches have also agreed to 15% salary reductions and all other Purdue Athletics staff will be impacted by either reductions in force, furloughs, reduced work schedules or salary reductions ranging from 5% up to 50% based upon a combination of pay range and the projected individual workload impact during the 2020-21 academic year.
“These salary adjustments, along with other personnel measures we’ve taken, such as limited reductions in force and an extended hold on certain unfilled positions, will result in savings of nearly $5 million dollars over the next 12 months,” Bobinski continued.
The aim of the "More Than A Game" campaign is to help the Athletics Department with the financial ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic.
