Michigan's Dave Brandon among nation's highest-paid athletic directors
USA Today compiled a list of salaries for 111 of the 120 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision athletic directors, and Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon was ranked as the 13th highest-paid person on the list.
According to the database, Brandon earns a total salary of $700,454 per year, with a potential bonus amount of $165,000.
The list includes 10 of the 12 Big Ten Conference schools (Northwestern and Penn State are not included). Among the Big Ten athletic directors listed, Brandon sits third, behind Ohio State's Gene Smith ($1.058 million annual salary) and Wisconsin's Barry Alvarez ($1.041 million annual salary).
Vanderbilt's David Williams is listed as the highest-paid athletic director, with an annual total salary number of $2.56 million. Florida's Jeremy Foley ($1.55 million), Louisville's Tom Jurich ($1.43 million), Texas' DeLoss Dodds ($1.096 million) and Smith round out the top five reported salaries.
Louisiana-Monroe's Bobby Staub has the lowest reported annual salary at $109,923.
The list itself was compiled through open records' requests by USA Today. Private schools with unlisted tax information and public schools that did not list an outside income report were excluded. The excluded schools were Northwestern, Penn State, Brigham Young, Miami (Fla.), Rice, Southern California, Stanford, Temple and Tulane.
Nick Baumgardner covers Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2514, by email at nickbaumgardner@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @nickbaumgardner.
Comments
Billy Bob Schwartz
Fri, Dec 2, 2011 : 11:03 p.m.
Regarding Dave Brandon's salary, I found this information: "His total compensation at Domino's was $3.228 million in 2008, according to Forbes" Looks like he's working for something other than the paycheck, eh?! I think executive pay is ridiculous, too, but let's be realistic. Athletics are a major part of our culture, like or not (I like it), and this man took a financial beating to return to his alma mater and run a huge athletic program. So far, he has done a great job. I believe he will keep doing so. I'm glad for it.
Lorain Steelmen
Thu, Oct 6, 2011 : 9:54 p.m.
The last I heard the annual budget for the athletic department ( self sufficient from the U), was around 110 MM.) So he's under 1%, of budget. Do I think ANYONE, is worth that much...no way,..BUT, I'll put in for the job, if DB ever leaves. (That would keep me in beer, all weekend!) Seriously though, the football team carries ALL the other sports, AND, when successful, leads directly to higher endowments and contributions from alums, to the U's academic programs. It's a sad commentary on our socieity, BUT, it's reality. And thats' why our fund raiser-in-chief, President Colemen was so happy, to bring Davie & Brady on board. Does anyone think she's really gives a hoot about football? C'mon now. It's all about the money stupid. (By the way, that is why Goodon 'Golly Gee-wiz', was brought back to Columbus, and why he & Gene Smith just don't see any 'systemic problems' at THEosu.) Hmm. Are you paying any attention here, NCAA discipline commitee? One last thought. In 1969, two men struck an agreement with a handshake, (nothing on paper), and word of honor. Don Canham & Bo Shembechler went on, to build one of the most successful marketing/athletic programs in the country. One that has served as the model for athletic departments for 43 years. Now, in 2011 we may be witnessing the beginnings of a 'next great' marketing/athletic department. And don't kid yourself, both men, Brandon & Hoke, are clearly emulating Bo & Canham, whom they hold in the highest regard for success....WITH INTEGRITY! They'll never say this publically, but I am sure, both men are constantly reminding ALL athletic personal, and athletes, in ALL sports, to observe the letter of the law, to avoid an osu type disaster in Ann Arbor. So good luck gentlemen...UM IS, about excellence, whether it be the chemistry department , or the football team. EXCELLENCE. Just listen to Hoke and Matison, as they talk about what these players need to do and achieve...it all comes back to EXCELLENCE.
RWBill
Thu, Oct 6, 2011 : 2:32 p.m.
I'm surprised he's that low on the list, Michigan is getting a lot for the money. He manages one of the largest and most diverse programs in the country, and a top revenue generator, with the largest, active and influential alumni base. If Ohio is paying their AD nearly 40% more than Brandon we've got a great deal.
Gordon
Thu, Oct 6, 2011 : 1:31 p.m.
If they are not pulling money from tuition then why are they not supporting tuition? Seems the valueof Sports is some what lost in the money game. Hard to boycott Wall Street while not boycotting salaries at Universities / Colleges? What's the difference both are entertaining if you are winning.
Theo212
Thu, Oct 6, 2011 : 12:54 p.m.
He ran out Our King; He raised all the prices. Looking only at dollar, Is among the worst vices. So, brethren, please join me; A campaign I'm now startin'. Meet at Stadium and Main, And "Bring Back Bill Martin!" -Theo Houk '72
RWBill
Thu, Oct 6, 2011 : 2:36 p.m.
Wow that is frightening.
Blu-dogg97
Thu, Oct 6, 2011 : 1:19 p.m.
Please... rolling my eye's..
Lemmy Caution
Thu, Oct 6, 2011 : 3:15 a.m.
So sad. He gets paid like a corporate CEO, but the most important people--the players on the field--don't get a thin dime. Not now. Most sports, of course, are not money-makers. But of those few that are, just think of it. The entertainers will give the hearts to the team, to Brandon, and UM, and this school and the NCAA will never give them a piece of the action. Not now when they wears jerseys, wristbands, helmets, pads, advertising for very rich corporations seeking new young clients. Not later, when the NCAA sells old games and highlight reels for streaming or broadcast. Not ever. It's such an embarrassment that UM needs to do this to get alumni to donate back to our great school and to love the alma mater. But I suppose I just don't get it.
JustfortheRecord
Thu, Oct 6, 2011 : 1:09 p.m.
Ok, so forget the WalMart analogy...I can give that one up. (even though there are ways to transfer schools...just like Ryan Mallet did...and now he's the backup QB on a pretty swell team...) Explain to me how they don't get a LOT in return for their football scholarship? For every Tom Brady in the NFL, there are thousands of kids a year who get free degrees. For the 22 star players on the major football teams that may or may not be able to generate millions of dollars, they will be fine if they do their time and move on.
johnnya2
Thu, Oct 6, 2011 : 4:15 a.m.
Justfor the record, Ridiculous comparison. You actually said do people who WORK AT WAL MART get a piece of the pie. Well the NCAA has not deemed them to be EMPLOYEES. The fact remains they ARE employees by every logical definition. As an employee of Wal Mart, I am free to consider a better offer from Target at ANY TIME. As a scholarship athlete, I am not allowed to transfer when and where I want. I am not allowed to say, Michigan State will offer me $10k plus tuition and UM only offered me tuition. So if you want to consider them employees, you will not get a single ounce of agreement from any member of the athletic department. They keep up the charade that this is an "extra curricular" activity.
JustfortheRecord
Thu, Oct 6, 2011 : 3:49 a.m.
Also, everyone says football players should get a "piece of the pie" - What about the volleyball players. Do people who work at WalMart get a "piece-of-the-WalMart-pie" that is as valuable as an undergrad degree? Just go play the game, get your degree, if you don't make the NFL, get a job or grab a masters degree and they will be making WAY more money when they are 23 years old than people who didn't go to college or have to spend 20 years paying off expensive college loans.
JustfortheRecord
Thu, Oct 6, 2011 : 3:47 a.m.
Some of us will pay off our college loans when we are 55. Football players don't. They have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a basically free education that many other people don't get.
jcj
Thu, Oct 6, 2011 : 3:07 a.m.
Brandon sits third, behind Ohio State's Gene Smith ($1.058 million annual salary) Gene Smith must include his cut from the players that got paid!
chapmaja
Thu, Oct 6, 2011 : 2:51 a.m.
I wish these papers would actually report the full truth. People have questions why Vandy is paying the AD the highest pay rate. The reason is that they are not paying an athletic director. Vanderbilt, under the leadership of now Ohio State President Gordon Gee disbanded the athletic department in 2003. The athletic department is not a seperate department as it is at other schools. The athletic department is part of the University Affairs Department. David Willaims is not the atheltic director at Vandy. David Willaims, official title from the Vanderbilt Website is : "Vice Chancellor for University Affairs, General Counsel and Secretary of the University; Professor of Law." His salary as listed is a combination off all of the duties he is titled with.
Somargie
Thu, Oct 6, 2011 : 1:33 a.m.
How is this a surprise? All these AD's are paid at an insanely high rate along with the coaches & staff of their "sacred" sports. All these tax exempt universities with their "self sustaining" programs where "zero" or less than 50% of their "self sustaining" programs via a tax exempt educational entity go to the real intention of what a university is suppose to do and what this country have allowed the "tax exemption" should be for....needs to be taxed, taxed and taxed on every penny they earned and every stadium built to feed that beast of distraction which is allowed to control the educational goal of that university, the city which loses funding for services, the real students who don't get "20 points" for college entrance, the parents of those students who have to pay higher tuition every year, and the citizens of that city who have to endure loss of services, school funding, police, firefighters and the right to challenge inappropriate stadium noise levels, parking lots within neighborhoods or fans who park illegally in neighborhoods without fear of ever getting a ticket Just my humble opinion and my right to have one in a city where any opinion but "blind UM & sport love" is criticized.
Elton in Atlanta
Fri, Oct 7, 2011 : 12:09 p.m.
Da comrade! Class enemies Like Brandon should make no more than trash man. Only Central Committee members deserve dacha!
RWBill
Thu, Oct 6, 2011 : 2:45 p.m.
"inappropriate stadium noise levels" OMG sucks to be you. It doesn't enter your mind that the opportunity to contribute to those "inappropriate noise levels" 7 Saturdays a year is a leading attribute of UM for top notch high school students in Michigan and around the country when they consider which university to attend? It's a great part of the campus experience, and few do it as well as UM. Your bitter tone smacks of someone who felt rejected as a kid and have always held a grudge since, tirelessly working to stop anyone from having any fun because you can't. Pathetic and sad.
RWBill
Thu, Oct 6, 2011 : 2:34 p.m.
ROFL
chapmaja
Thu, Oct 6, 2011 : 2:58 a.m.
These AD's are paid substantially less than what they could make working in the private sector doing a similar job. These AD's are running multi-million dollar companies. Should the atheltic departments be taxed? That's a different discussion. The simple fact is the University of Michigan brings in substantially more money to the City of Ann Arbor than it costs the city. What would Ann Arbor be without the University of Michigan? It would be a little town on the side of the river that people take the train right through without a care in the world. You mention the fact that the football games costs schools. Maybe you need to take a look at the income the AAPS bring in on Football Saturday's. They get between 500 and 1000 cars parked on the Pioneer property on a football Saturday. At $20 per car that means the AAPs brings in $10,000 to $20,000 per game day Saturday. This season that is between $80,000 and $160,000 in revenue for the AAPS. Not to bad considering there is not a substantial decline in AAPS services as a result of the games.
Nephilim
Thu, Oct 6, 2011 : 1:42 a.m.
Standing up and clapping right now. You are absolutely right. People are actually posting that this person is well worth that amount of money and another rationalizes by it not coming out of anything but the self generated sports budget and I guess I'm one of the only few who thinks that's absolutely absurd! People amass to criticize the mid level workers for not taking concessions and not paying more for health insurance yet you are proud this guy makes an ungodly amount of cash. Wow!
newe82
Thu, Oct 6, 2011 : 1:06 a.m.
Worth every penny and probably more if UM football keeps improving. Gene Smith at OSU making over a million is a joke. That salary must include the extra cash he gets from selling equipment out of the equipment room and kickbacks from the tattoo parlor.
riverraisin
Wed, Oct 5, 2011 : 11:35 p.m.
You gotta hand it to Dave Brandon...He couldn't have done a better job of finding and hiring Brady Hoke to coach our football team. I highly doubt that any other coach would have been a better fit. As far as Gene Smith over at tosu.....I think he's gonna be out of a job pretty soon.
The OSU
Wed, Oct 5, 2011 : 11:25 p.m.
Vanderbilt? Really, Vanderbilt? What makes Valderbilt's athletic department twice as complicated as tOSU or three times as complicated as UM's? Oops, I know. The AD needs to find a athletic conference that WANTS Vanderbilt. To quote an old commercial... its PRICELESS.
chapmaja
Thu, Oct 6, 2011 : 2:52 a.m.
Actually Vanderbilt has had some substantial athletic success in recent years, since the athletic department was disbanded, including being the top baseball seed, going to a Bowl game (IIRC) and winning a national title (Bowling, but it is an NCAA sport).
Smart Logic
Wed, Oct 5, 2011 : 11:22 p.m.
The athletics department is self maintaining, so, let them pay them whatever they want. It isn't like they're pulling money from tuition dollars, the hospital, or anything else to pay for his salary.
David Vande Bunte
Wed, Oct 5, 2011 : 9:50 p.m.
Not shocked he is among the best paid at all. Whether the haters ever want to admit it or not, Michigan is a high-profile University with a very high-profile athletics department. But Vandy's AD makes 2.56 million? VANDY? Maybe if they spent a little more of that money going to their AD on their actual teams, they might be relevant in at least ONE sport...