West Virginia athletics take salary cuts to save $3 million amid coronavirus pandemic

West Virginia athletic director Shane Lyons will take a 10% salary reduction for next fiscal year in an effort to save athletic department $3 million in response to coronavirus pandemic. Lyons said Friday that football coach Neal Brown, men’s basketball coach Bob Huggins, women’s basketball coach Mike Carey, and baseball coach Randy Mazey also will voluntarily take 10% reduction starting on July 1. In dition, coaches and athletic staff earning more than $100,000 will take a 5% salary reduction, and staff making less than $100,000 will take a 2.5% reduction. Huggins and Brown have base salaries of $250,000. Huggins will enter fourth year of a contract extension that also includes $3.8 million in supplemental compensation, while Brown is in second year of a contract that has $2.85 million in supplemental compensation. 

Lyons also said 65 employees, or nearly one-third of athletic department’s workforce, will be furloughed for 60 days starting May 24. Some employees will t return to department and current job openings will t be filled, he said.
Lyons said athletic department is facing a projected $5 million shortfall due to several factors, including cancellation of Big 12 and NCAA men’s basketball championships; ditional losses of upcoming conference and ticket revenue; and donations to Mountaineer Athletic Club.  “News like this is t easy,” Lyons said in a statement. “I appreciate understanding of our staff in se uncertain times. COVID-19 pandemic has dealt us a financial situation that requires action, and our entire department will be affected as we work to minimize effects and maintain a fiscally responsible operation.”  College athletic departments nationwide are under pressure to cut costs during coronavirus pandemic. Some schools have taken aggressive step of eliminating some sports entirely, while many schools have asked ir highest-paid employees to take salary cuts.