There have been plenty of coaches during the COVID-19 pandemic that have taken pay cuts as schools adjust their payrolls. Some schools have reduced salaries, announced furloughs or outright laid off staff members. However, Texas head football coach Tom Herman is not among them according to a report from ESPN.
According to the ESPN staff, 75 schools were contacted about their payrolls. A Texas spokesman stated that “they are still considering options as they finalize the budget.”
Coaches who have taken a reduction:
- Bill Self, Kansas
- Mike Krzyzewski, Duke
- Tom Izzo, Michigan State
- Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma
- Jim Harbaugh, Michigan
Five of the Big 12 schools have taken cuts while three have not. Two other Big 12 schools refused to answer on whether or not there will be cuts made. Herman is set to make his $6.8 million salary if no changes are made to the budget. Most schools are taking a 10 percent reduction that would essentially drop Herman down to $6.12 million. If the college football season is cancelled as many think, Herman likely will have a pay cut with no revenue being generated from football.
Colleges are bracing for huge losses from declining enrollment due to the pandemic. At the same time, athletic departments are facing dramatic losses of their own, starting with the cancellation of the NCAA basketball tournament in March. A year ago, schools split a pool of $600 million; this year, they were told to expect barely a third of that. With larger uncertainty ahead — namely whether there will be football this fall — athletic directors are looking for ways to save money, including the elimination of some sports.