LSU head coach Ed Orgeron is the second-highest-paid head coach in college football, according to USA TODAY’s coaching salary database,
Orgeron moved into the No. 2 spot behind Alabama’s Nick Saban due to Clemson’s Dabo Swinney agreeing to a salary reduction due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, Orgeron is the latest coach to voluntarily agree to have his salary reduced, per Glenn Guilbeau of the Lafayette Daily Advertiser.
Orgeron, as well as LSU athletic director Scott Woodward, agreed to a 5% reduction for 2021.
[lawrence-related id=12251]
Orgeron will lose $300,000 in salary from LSU in 2021; however, he does receive the other $2.9 million from other entities, specifically the Tiger Athletic Foundation.
“I was very willing,” Orgeron said Thursday night during a teleconference. “With the deficit they have, it’s understandable.”
LSU is among the many universities expected to face a massive deficit due to COVID-19. LSU’s projected losses are around $80 million.
Regarding pay reduction, coaches making more than $80,000 annually do not have to take a five percent decrease for 2021 but can do so on a volunteer basis.
[lawrence-related id=12243]
“I think five percent is very generous on their part,” Orgeron said. “I know some other staffs are even going 10 percent or higher. So, I was glad to do it.”
Woodward’s office also released a statement.
LSU Athletics announced a compensation reduction plan to help mitigate the impact of an expected $80 million loss in revenue as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The department initiated several costs savings measures since March and today announced the additional step of a department-wide reduction in compensation.
Woodward, whose salary is $1.5 million per year, faces a pay reduction of $75,000.
[lawrence-related id=12207]
Unfortunately, LSU laid off other employees due to the pandemic but did not name them. Jason Suitt, an assistant athletic director for fan engagement, announced on his Twitter account he no longer works for LSU.
1/2 Well my friends, COVID-19 has hit the Suitt household. As of today, LSU has eliminated my position within athletics. The world will keep moving and the sun will once again come up tomorrow (I hope). I have thoroughly enjoyed working at LSU and will consider myself a Tiger.
— Jason Suitt (@Jmsuitt) October 29, 2020
Orgeron noted that the football program would not see any significant cuts.
“The thing I like about it is they didn’t cut anything from the football team,” he said. “Nothing from my athletes. We’re still traveling the same way. We still have the same amount of food.”
[vertical-gallery id=12267]