After "presiding over a record-setting couple of years on the field and off," Houston AD Hunter Yurachek "has a new contract with a five-year deal" that runs through '21, according to Joseph Duarte of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. The contract, which was "signed last Sept. 1, increases Yurachek’s annual base salary from $350,000 to $450,000." Since replacing Mack Rhoades in May '15, Yurachek has "been at the helm of a renaissance of the football program." The success "led to the Cougars being a box office hit with more than 21,000 paid season-ticket packages sold before last season." UH also "posted the second-highest average attendance among Group of Five schools this season" with 38,953 at 40,000-seat TDECU Stadium, a 15% increase from the previous year. Yurachek is "coming off the most significant hiring of his tenure with Major Applewhite’s promotion to head coach in mid-December." Yurachek also has "helped oversee the fundraising and construction of new facilities." Along with the $60M Fertitta Center, which is set to open for the '18-19 season, UH "recently broke ground" on a $20M indoor football practice facility that "will open in August" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 1/4).
POWERS IN AUSTIN: In Austin, Kirk Bohls reported Texas has "not begun a formal search" for a permanent AD to succeed Mike Perrin and "may not until late spring." However, sources said that the school has "started to kick the tires on potential candidates," including NCAA Exec VP/Regulatory Affairs & Strategic Partnerships Oliver Luck, Kansas State AD John Currie, Arizona AD Greg Byrne, Oklahoma AD Joe Castiglione and Virginia Tech AD Whit Babcock. UT also is "exploring the idea of consolidating the AD position" as a VP over athletics and moving women’s AD Chris Plonsky to a "strong marketing position" (STATESMAN.com, 1/3).
FAMILY MATTERS: In Pittsburgh, Jerry DiPaola noted Pitt AD Scott Barnes, who is departing for Oregon State, has health issues among family members "compelling the family to re-connect with loved ones on the West Coast." Barnes said that his 20-year-old daughter is "dealing with a medical issue and his 83-year-old mother is in declining health" in Spokane. Barnes: "We are saddened because we don't get to see the fruits of all our labors. Under normal circumstances, we'd be here. I want people to understand how much we have appreciated being here. Pitt has been a blessing to me and my family. With what's happened here in the last six months, 12 months, it's changed our outlook, it just has. It really took a great medical community and some good friends to help us understand some of the problems we were dealing with." He added, "We had no intention of leaving. A window opened and during that time we struggled with some family health issues. That compelled us to look now" (TRIBLIVE.com, 1/3).
