New Univ. of Nevada AD Stephanie Rempe will top “over $500,000 annually” as part of her contract that starts on July 18, according to Siobhan McAndrew of the RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL. Rempe will “be paid a base salary of $400,000,” but her compensation is considerably more than her predecessor Doug Knuth and “could easily top $500,000 or more.” The additional compensation includes a "$75,000 annual media and public appearance fee which is at the discretion of UNR's president; a $30,000 annual housing allowance; and bonuses for academic and athletic performances of the football and men's basketball teams." She also is eligible for "$15,000 annually if just over half of the total number of student athletes graduate." Her contract "also awards her a one-time payment of $25,000 due within 15 days of starting the job" (RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL, 6/23).
RIGHT CHOICE: In Nevada, Chris Murray noted Rempe's only stop at a non Power 5 school during her nearly three-decade career as an athletic administrator came almost 20 years ago when she worked at UTEP from '98-'03. In her new role, "she'll have a far different challenge of leading a department that typically ranks in the bottom three" in budget in the Mountain West, a conference whose "average revenue ranks seventh out of 10" FBS conferences. Rempe has "been a highly sought-after candidate" for AD jobs in recent years. She "could have waited" for a Power 5 job to open, or "at least a more attractive (on paper) Group of 5 post." But she was drawn to Nevada, in part because of "geography and in part because of who she'll work for" -- Nevada President Brian Sandoval, whose passion for Nevada she called "contagious" (NEVADASPORTSNET.com, 6/23).
