Ole Miss AD Ross Bjork on Friday “agreed to a four-year contract extension that will keep him” at the school through ’19, according to Riley Blevins of the Jackson CLARION-LEDGER. Bjork will “have a base salary of $650,000.” The deal “also includes $100,000 in academic and on-the-field performance incentives.” Since arriving at Ole Miss in ‘12, Bjork has “helped bring in a record number of private donations.” He has “worked to increase the athletics budget” to $92M for the ‘15-16 season. When he took over, Ole Miss "had an annual budget” of about $50M. Meanwhile, Bjork also was named as “a member of the NCAA's men's basketball oversight committee” (Jackson CLARION-LEDGER, 4/18).
LEADER OF THE PACK: In Raleigh, Joe Giglio noted NC State AD Debbie Yow on Friday was “was approved for a contract extension and a $174,000 raise” by the school’s BOT. Yow’s contract was “extended by two years, and runs through July 2019, and her annual salary will be $690,000.” The “progress in the athletics department has not come at a cost on the academic side,” as NC State has “posted its highest scores in both the Academic Progress Report and the Federal Graduate Rate” (Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 4/18).
A HIGHER CALLING: In San Jose, Elliott Almond noted Santa Clara AD Dan Coonan is leaving his position to “work for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.” Santa Clara Senior Associate AD Jeff Mitchell will “fill the vacancy on an interim basis until a replacement is found” (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 4/18).
