Eastern Michigan to pay athletic director $245,000 plus $103K in possible bonuses
Newly hired Eastern Michigan athletic director Heather Lyke, above, will be the fourth-highest-paid AD in the MAC.
Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com file photo
Newly hired Eastern Michigan athletic director and Vice President Heather Lyke said establishing a winning culture will be her top priority when she begins later this month.
It would be in her best financial interest to do so.
Illustration by Pete Cunningham
According to Lyke’s contract, she can earn up to $103,333.32 in bonuses in addition to her base salary. Most of the bonuses are tied to the performance of Eastern’s 19 varsity sports, but $9,000 worth of bonuses is tied to attendance at football, and men’s and women’s basketball games. Lyke will also be rewarded if Eastern’s scholar athletes succeed in the classroom, with $4,000 of the bonuses tied to academic performance.
Lyke also has a $500 per month vehicle allowance and the university will pay for all her moving expenses.
That Lyke will ever realize the entirety of her bonuses in one year is highly unlikely. The Eagles football team would have to make a Bowl Championship Series bowl game in the same year that the men’s and women’s basketball teams each advance to the Elite 8s in their respective NCAA Tournaments, among other things. Those teams would have to have to average 15,000 (football), 3,500 (men’s basketball) and 2,500 (women’s basketball) in attendance for that to happen as well.
None of the three teams reached those marks even one time last year.
Unsurprisingly, the most valuable of the bonuses reward a winning and popular football team with $45,833.32 of the bonuses related to the Eagles' performance on the field and attendance at home games.
Among the bonuses:
Lyke is owed $20,416.66 (one month’s pay) if the football team makes a postseason bowl.
…$20,416.66 if the football team participates in a Bowl Championship Series bowl game.
…$5,000 if the football team’s actual home attendance averages 15,000 or more.
…$1,000 if the men’s basketball team wins a MAC divisional championship.
…$3,500 if the men’s basketball team makes the National Invitational Tournament (NIT).
…$5,000 if the men’s basketball team makes the NCAA Tournament.
…$2,500 if the men’s basketball team makes the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament.
…$2,000 if the men’s basketball team’s actual home attendance averages 3,500 or more.
…$1,000 if the women’s basketball team wins a MAC divisional championship.
…$3,500 if the women’s basketball team makes the National Invitational Tournament (NIT).
…$5,000 if the women’s basketball team makes the NCAA Tournament.
…$2,500 if the women’s basketball team makes the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament.
…$2,000 if the women’s basketball team’s actual home attendance averages 2,500 or more.
...$1,000 for every MAC championship won by any of the 16 non-revenue varsity sports.
…$2,500 if Eastern Michigan wins the MAC Reese Cup, given to the top men’s athletics program in the conference.
…$2,500 if Eastern Michigan wins the Jacoby Cup, given to the top women’s athletics program in the conference.
…$2,500 if Eastern Michigan wins both the MAC Reese Cup and the MAC Jacoby Cup in the same year.
…$2,000 if the athletic department achieves an NCAA Yearly Academic Progress Rate average score of 980 or better or $1,500 for 970 or better or $1,000 for 960 or better.
…$2,000 if 70 percent of scholar athletes achieve a 3.0 cumulative GPA or better or $1,500 for 65 percent or better, or $1,000 for 60 percent or better.
Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at petercunningham@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.
Comments
beardown
Thu, Jul 4, 2013 : 6:10 a.m.
Wait, EMU has sport teams? When did this happen?
custo
Thu, Jul 4, 2013 : 2:26 a.m.
And we wonder why education is now out of reach.
Buzz Buzz
Wed, Jul 3, 2013 : 11:45 p.m.
The President of the United States makes $400,000 and the Athletic Director at EMU has the potential to earn $375,000? Something is VERY wrong here. Of course, we ARE talking about EMU. And EMU has been wondering for years why its alumni base fail to donate money?
eagleman
Thu, Jul 4, 2013 : 11:54 p.m.
The POTUS receives a lot more than just a salary. Lifetime personal protection, use of Air Force One, free housing, free food, free transportation. POTUS pays for very little.
AA Neighbor
Wed, Jul 3, 2013 : 11:32 p.m.
Let's see...4th rank salary for the head gym teacher at a 5th rate school...those Buckeyes are smarter than I thought.
Orangecrush2000
Wed, Jul 3, 2013 : 10:50 p.m.
How hard is this job, anyways?..... OMG, you have to schedule a team. You have to look at a chart. Sometimes, you have to call someone. What happens if someone doesn't return your call?? OMG. It's beyond difficult.
Veracity
Wed, Jul 3, 2013 : 9:29 p.m.
Good Luck!
Jaime Magiera
Wed, Jul 3, 2013 : 9:22 p.m.
What is the average instructors salary at Eastern? I know what I made there as an adjunct lecturer for a semester, but would be curious what the average is for longstanding lecturers and professors. Personally, I'd love to see educators paid more than athletic directors. Ultimately, educators are responsible for creating the real "winners".
lucystanstead
Wed, Jul 3, 2013 : 6:56 p.m.
Why does EMU feel the need for a "winning culture"? How about the need for a respectable and respectful culture? They need a smart culture, an enjoyable culture...one in which the athletes and the spectators have a good time. Let's face it, nobody really cares whether EMU wins or loses its games. EMU should be a place where a student can get a degree and have some fun playing football, tennis, or frisbee. College, and especially small college, sports should not be a business.
TheGerman
Wed, Jul 3, 2013 : 6:54 p.m.
Great to see where the priorities are at EMU!
MRunner73
Wed, Jul 3, 2013 : 4:06 p.m.
Not sure what the real point of the article is except that EMU is willing to pony up more $$ to have a better run Athletic Department and that Football and Basketball should lead the way. The bonus incentives are fair. Not only does EMU need a wining culture but students and alumni need to give more support. Perhaps winning come first and then the crowds will come.
Goofus
Wed, Jul 3, 2013 : 3:48 p.m.
EMU should take half the money they waste every year on their awful and pointless football program and put it into WEMU, their radio station.
johnnya2
Wed, Jul 3, 2013 : 3:29 p.m.
All of you complaining about her salary should look at a concept called supply and demand. Qualified AD's are in short supply. The demand is high. There is competition for the jobs. Most of you think the job is going to football games and hiring coaches. It is FAR more than that. $245 is not even the highest in the MAC. The LOWEST paid AD in the Big Ten makes just under $400k per year and does nto even have the opportunity to go to a bowl game due to probation.
Itchy
Wed, Jul 3, 2013 : 6:45 p.m.
One of these days, society and the public are going to wake up and realize that their sports focused priorities have been all wrong. The priority has and should be an affordable education. The artist is correct - athletic related wages are way over the top.
Pete Cunningham
Wed, Jul 3, 2013 : 3:27 p.m.
There was a typo in the article regarding the bonuses related to the football team's on-field performance. The headline and numbers in the article have been changed to reflect the accurate amounts. Lyke is owed bonuses the equivalent of one month's pay, $20,416.66, if the football team makes a postseason bowl and another $20,416.66 if the Eagles make the postseason.
Tim Hornton
Wed, Jul 3, 2013 : 4:11 p.m.
The words EMU football and bowl game don't go together. Integrity and Ohio State don't go together either... AAnews and being objective in politics don't mix as well.
M.Haney
Wed, Jul 3, 2013 : 3:18 p.m.
Shouldn't all the stipulations covered by the bonuses actually be part of her contract and actual goals to reach for? Why is the school paying additional money for doing the job she was hired to do? $245,000 should cover all the contingencies. Plus a car allowance?
IVote
Sat, Jul 6, 2013 : 12:22 a.m.
Pete, criminal activity , etc is pretty standard in politics. It doesn't mean it's good practice.
Pete Cunningham
Thu, Jul 4, 2013 : 7:13 a.m.
Bonuses are pretty standard in athletic contracts. I'm not sure about car bonuses, but it's certainly not out of the ordinary. Every contract I ever remember reading has involved bonuses for high levels of achievement be it championships, bowl games, NCAA Tournament berths, etc. The only bonus that sticks out to me as unique is the low bar being set for attendance goals for the football and basketball teams. But, that is a reflection of knowing the reality of where those teams stand now and where they want to be. Look at it this way, what if instead of saying Lyke gets a bonus if the football team averages a half empty stadium (15,000) someone told you the football team increased its average home attendance by an average of 10,000 attendants per game? That sounds bonus worthy to me.
A2ron
Wed, Jul 3, 2013 : 2:27 p.m.
Hi Pete, Any idea on what bonuses were worked into Dr. Gragg's contract compared to bonuses he actually earned? Just curious. Personally, given EMU's record at AD I'd almost prefer a more bonus based system. Compensating a high salary doesn't seem to demand results. It seems in Athletics, from admin to coaches, EMU is always talking about a new direction after frequent turnover and it's the same song and dance. I hope Lyke earns all of her bonuses and EMU sees some much overdue success.
beardown
Thu, Jul 4, 2013 : 12:16 a.m.
Spot on. If they do not achieve success, you fire them. From the AD down to the people working in the marketing department. Drawing 1-3k people a game is a farce...and not even at FCS (former D2) level. Until they hold admins and coaches responsible, they will continue to a lower division cellar dweller.
nickcarraweigh
Wed, Jul 3, 2013 : 1:55 p.m.
Bonuses aside, I don't understand how one month's pay is $10,208.33 if the annual base salary is $245,000.
Pete Cunningham
Wed, Jul 3, 2013 : 3:26 p.m.
There was a typo in the article regarding the bonuses related to the football team's on-field performance. The headline and numbers in the article have been changed to reflect the accurate amounts. Lyke is owed bonuses the equivalent of one month's pay, $20,416.66, if the football team makes a postseason bowl and another $20,416.66 if the Eagles make the postseason.
Pete Cunningham
Wed, Jul 3, 2013 : 3:07 p.m.
That's a typo on my part. That is her "semimonthly" pay. The correction has been made.
the artist
Wed, Jul 3, 2013 : 1:54 p.m.
The price of ALL Athletic Directors is way over the top. It is "professional" athletes not getting paid, looking for a real pro job. What is the percentage of these students that get degrees? Isn't that the real reason for going to school at EMU, UofM, MSU, WMU, CMU, etc.? And tuition keeps going up.
johnnya2
Thu, Jul 4, 2013 : 2:47 a.m.
"What is the percentage of these students that get degrees?" Well those numbers are EASY to find if you look. The most recent number of EMU student athletes is 74%. The OVERALL student population is 37.7%. Both those numbers are base on a SIX year cycle and do not include transfers (if you leave the University to another school you are no longer part of the numbers) It seems to me, we should have MORE sports. These numbers are fairly consistent among MOST colleges, though in most of the HIGHLY competitive colleges for both sports and education it will not be that large. UM is about 85% athletes and 90% general student population (which is FOURTH for all public universities in the country) For the record, the NAVAL Academy graduates 88.6% of their students
pk
Wed, Jul 3, 2013 : 1:10 p.m.
I HOPE ,I'm not calling her a name
pk
Wed, Jul 3, 2013 : 1:08 p.m.
I hoe this new AD makes some money for the University in an ATHLETIC DEPARMENT GARAGE SALE, like the one every year at the U of M. I know for a fact they just throw that gear in the garbage.
Tim Hornton
Wed, Jul 3, 2013 : 12:34 p.m.
Good for her for getting paid good money, all these haters in here are just jealous. So what if you pay about $3 a year in taxes to the school. Good chance she'll probably be fired in less then 5 years because EMU sports are the worst or if she is successful then she'll get offered more money at better school. EMU wants winners and you get what you pay for! Just like bringing in top scholarly talent to teach or to research and be a "winner" in the rankings universitys covet so much. I'm an assistant shift supervisor at Starbucks and with all these liberal arts degee grads around here I can be choosy to hire the best coffee makers and keep Starbucks #1, we pay a little more then min wage too so liberal art degree grads are easy for us to hire since nobody else seems to care to hire a person with a social science degree. Take my great wisdom and use it as you will AA readers.
mmppcc
Wed, Jul 3, 2013 : 12:01 p.m.
That salary is ridiculous. Why do schools like EMU continue to act as if athletics matter? If their "fans" don't care enough to buy tickets, why should students be forced to subsidize these programs? Just look at the number of EMU football tickets sold.
Pete Cunningham
Thu, Jul 4, 2013 : 7 a.m.
There's no such thing as too high of a salary. A job is worth as much as someone is willing to pay for it. That's Economics 101.
Goober
Wed, Jul 3, 2013 : 11:11 a.m.
Yup! Spend it like it's not my money. Somehow, this is just not right throwing this amount of money at these positions. Go figure!
beardown
Thu, Jul 4, 2013 : 6:07 a.m.
johnnya2, you cannot build anything with perpetual losers, which is what EMU has. Tell me the last time EMU had a winning season against D1 or FBS teams? And yet their coach has a been around for 4, maybe 5, years and makes a middle level conference wage? He should have been fired after 2 failing years. Losing breeds losing. EMU should notice this and fire their entire mens staff and start over with strict winning requirements. If you want a team that wins 2 or 3 or 4 (if they play lower level teams), that's great, keep the curent regime around. But to be a quality team, that is below mediocre. Well below mediocre.
johnnya2
Thu, Jul 4, 2013 : 2:32 a.m.
@beardown, "replace them with young hungry coaches who are on a short leash, and build a program." You can not BUILD anything with a short leash. BUILDING something takes time. I prefer hiring quality people to do a god job and let them build something. Most of EMU's sports programs NEED building. This is not taking over a SUCCESSFUL UM football program and running it into the ground ala Rich Rod.
beardown
Thu, Jul 4, 2013 : 12:13 a.m.
Those goals to reach her bonuses should not receive bonus money. She should be fired if she does not acheive those within the five year period. If they want athletic success, then it is time that they start acting like one. Fire those who are not doing well (most of the mens coaches), replace them with young hungry coaches who are on a short leash, and build a program. Right now, they are just throwing money at it and hoping for success.
Itchy
Wed, Jul 3, 2013 : 6:47 p.m.
You are correct Goob. Too bad the leaders running the university don't see it the same way. I am sure they can get a good AD for less and put some of these funds back into reducing tuition.
MRunner73
Wed, Jul 3, 2013 : 4:09 p.m.
What college or university isn't will to "throw money" at it? Give EMU credit for taking a step in the right direction to athletic success. It will take a lot of work and many years to reach their goal. A five year plan is the minimum. The new AD will need to work very hard and spend a lot of hours per day per week to set things in motion.
johnnya2
Wed, Jul 3, 2013 : 3:31 p.m.
Yes, her salary is about 2.5 CENTS per person in the state of Michigan. YOUR money is not that important.