Survey reveals Athletic Director compensation is not exact science
A compilation of the compensation figures for Athletic Directors at Power 5/major conference schools like Kansas, Kansas State and Missouri shows that how much Athletic Directors are paid depends on many factors.
Athletic Directors at Power 5/major conference schools may have similar responsibilities, but how well they are compensated for those duties varies greatly according to a survey recently published by Athletic Director U and USA Today. That athletic director compensation variance seems to rely on a number of factors.
For the Athletic Directors at Kansas, Kansas State and Mizzou, there is room to grow. Mizzou AD Jim Sterk is the best-compensated of the three, with a total compensation of $850,000. Kansas’ Sheahon Zenger is next at $700,000 and Kansas State’s Gene Taylor reported a total compensation of $500,000. While even Taylor’s salary would represent a tremendous raise for most fans, it’s small in comparison to his peers.
The average total compensation for Athletic Directors at this level is $937,1999, meaning all three of these Athletic Directors are compensated well-below the average for their peers. Sterk’s compensation looks a bit more respectable when it gets narrowed down to SEC schools only, which carries an average of $895,034.
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The Big 12 average compensation is currently $958,279, putting Taylor and Zenger well below that figure. In a comprehensive ranking of all “autonomy five” Athletic Directors, Sterk ranks 30th overall and ninth in the SEC. Zenger is 44th overall and seventh in the Big 12. Taylor comes in at 63rd overall and eighth in the Big 12.
Why are these Athletic Directors ranked so low comparatively in compensation? Tenure has a lot to do with it. Many of the best-compensated have been in their positions for much longer than Sterk, Taylor or Zenger. Zenger is the most-tenured of the trio as he has been in his current position since 2011. Sterk was hired to his post two years ago and Taylor is just beginning his second year in Manhattan.
Giving existing directors periodic raises actually represents a cost savings for many athletic departments because the cost of hiring a search committee and luring desired talent to a department can be greater. Many Athletic Directors have retention bonuses in their contracts to that end.
Other factors have to do with facilities and fundraising that directors have overseen during their tenures. These are often the “performance measurements” that regents evaluate these individuals upon. The short tenures of Sterk and Taylor hurt their earning potential in this regard as well, as significant facilities projects and fundraising initiatives like that which Zenger is currently overseeing at Kansas for the American football program often take years to complete.
Finally, many Athletic Directors earn bonuses and raises when the athletes and coaches they oversee check certain academic and competitive boxes. Again, the simple lack of time in the position works against this trio. These bonuses often involve both non-revenue and revenue sports, but it’s obvious that American football and men’s basketball drive the decisions to include these bonuses in contracts.
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The value of a successful athletic director to a Power 5 school’s athletic department is great, and a number can be attached to it. Figuring that number out is anything but a clear formula, however.