Purdue Athletics enacts cost-saving measures

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) – Purdue University’s athletics department has announced cost-savings plans that include voluntary salary reductions for some of its coaches. The university says four of its head coaches have taken a 20% reduction in salary and will forego any incentive compensation for 12 months beginning next month.

Purdue says the coaches include Football Head Coach Jeff Brohm, Men’s Basketball Head Coach Matt Painter, Women’s Basketball Head Coach Sharon Versyp, and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Mike Bobinski.

Bobinski says the salary adjustments and other cost-saving measures will save nearly $5 million over the next 12 months.

“As we face unprecedented medical and financial uncertainty, we’ve been focused on strategies to limit the impact on the support we provide our student-athletes, and that best protect the long term interests of coaches and staff,” said Bobinski. “Our current reality required that some uncomfortable and difficult decisions be made and I’m grateful for the understanding and resilience shown by our entire team of coaches and staff.”

According to the university, other contract head and assistant coaches have each voluntarily agreed to 15% salary reductions and all other Purdue Athletics staff will be impacted by either reductions in force, furloughs, reduced work schedules or salary reductions ranging from 5% to 50%. Purdue says the reductions will be based upon factors such as pay range and projected individual workload impact.

As part of the reduction, Purdue says the coaches, along with other coaches and senior administrators, have announced their collective intent to pledge $1 million to the More Than A Game campaign. The campaign, which was launched earlier this month, is a partnership with the John Purdue Club to help the athletics department navigate the financial challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.