Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany is "set to receive" more than $20M in future bonus payments, according to Steve Berkowitz of USA TODAY. The conference's new federal tax return states that in July '15, Delany "became fully eligible for future bonus payments pursuant to his employment contract." Delany was credited with nearly $2.4M in total compensation during the '15 calendar year. He also received just over $2M in base compensation and just under $275,000 in deferred compensation. In comparison to the commissioners of other Power Five conferences, Delany's recent pay has been "on the lower end." The "approximate total of the Big Ten’s future payments to Delany is revealed through changes over time in its expenses on employee compensation and in the reporting of liability totals and details although all of the differentials" for '16 "cannot necessarily be attributed to Delany's future payments." Beginning with FY '13, the conference reported annual compensation expenses of $6.2M, $7.1M and $7.9M. For FY '16, the amount was $30.6M. On the liabilities side, the Big Ten reported $44.4M in FY '13, then $38.2M and $35.1M. For FY '16, the amount is $63.9M (USATODAY.com, 5/12).
FAIR PLAY? In DC, Matt Bonesteel wrote under the header, "Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany Is Getting An Absurd Bonus." Minnesota President Eric Kaler, who also serves as Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors Chair, in a statement "defended the bonus much in the same way any big business defends its CEO’s bonus: It’s simply what the market bears." Only this particular market "involves workers who are virtually unpaid" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 5/13). ESPN's Jay Bilas criticized Delany's bonus in a string of tweets: "'We don't want college sports to be the minor leagues.' Makes billions, pay an exec $20M? That's MAJOR LEAGUE. ... What about non-revenue sports? Where will the money come from? No school makes money! Blah, blah, blah." FootballScoop.com's Zach Barnett tweeted the bonus is "smart business and terrible public relations." SB Nation's college football feed: "But remember, there's simply no money to pay players." Arizona State Dir of the Sports Law & Business Program Glenn Wong: "Reminder: Big Ten revenues likely to climb again when 6yr, $2.64B deal with Fox/ESPN is reflected in income."
PAY RAY: In Phoenix, Metcalfe & Berkowitz reported Arizona State VP/Athletics Ray Anderson "will earn more than $300,000 in bonuses" for ASU setting a record in APR performance. Anderson's current base salary is $642,600, which "ranks no higher than 25th nationally." In APR scores announced last week, ASU was at 991 out of 1000 overall, "highest in school history." That is worth a 12% bonus ($77,112) for Anderson (AZCENTRAL.com, 5/12).
