TCU coaches, AD reduce salaries amid coronavirus pandemic
Facing financial uncertainty amid the coronavirus pandemic, TCU has reduced the salaries of several coaches and administrators within the athletic department.
A source confirmed that, among others, football coach Gary Patterson, men’s basketball coach Jamie Dixon, baseball coach Jim Schlossnagle and athletic director Jeremiah Donati were among a group who voluntarily reduced their salaries during this crisis.
Another source added that football assistants Sonny Cumbie, Chad Glasgow, Jarrett Anderson and Dan Sharp also voluntarily took pay cuts.
“I am extremely proud that our coaches stepped up and made these voluntary pay cuts,” Donati said in a text message to the Star-Telegram. “They truly understand the environment we, and so many others, are in. It really shows their commitment to TCU.”
According to tax documents for 2017, Patterson made $4.9 million while Dixon made $3.4 million and Schlossnagle made $1.2 million that year.
Patterson made a $50,000 donation to the school’s crisis fund last month as well.
TCU joins a number of other schools, including Iowa State, the University of Arizona and Northern Iowa, that have taken similar measures.
Along with those reducing salaries voluntarily last month, TCU Chancellor Victor Boschini said other cost-cutting measures the school has taken include:
▪ searches and hiring on hold
▪ changes to new employee benefit options
▪ changes to retiree benefits
▪ reduction of 20% in the fiscal year 2021 operating budget
Boschini announced additional measures in an email to employees on Thursday, saying the school would cut its retirement contributions from 11.5% to 8% and reduce tuition credits.
“This news is difficult to deliver, but this reduction will result in significant cost savings to our overall budget and will allow TCU to still maintain competitive employee benefits for current and future employees,” Boschini wrote. “I can certainly attest to the fact that Vice Chancellor and Chief Human Resources Officer Yohna Chambers and her team have worked diligently to renegotiate rates with vendors and providers to minimize impact to our overall benefits package.”
As far as possibly seeing reduced enrollment amid the crisis, Boschini said early enrollment numbers “show promise.”
“However, we also know that COVID-19 continues to plague our country, with devastating consequences both personally and professionally for many families,” he wrote. “We will experience a budget shortfall, with scenarios that model more and less impact, depending on ability to host a variety of on-campus events, enrollment of both returning and incoming students, the possible future disruption in services, the return of our athletic program, and myriad other factors that impact revenue and expenses.
“It is no surprise that TCU, along with our colleagues in higher education, is experiencing unprecedented financial disruption and significant budget impact.”
This story was originally published May 14, 2020 at 7:07 PM.
