Departments across the Univ. of Kansas are being "ordered to make budget cuts" of about 6% for FY '19, though the budget for Kansas Athletics Inc. is "expected to grow" by about 6%, according to a front-page piece by Chad Lawhorn of the LAWRENCE JOURNAL-WORLD. Neither the school's BOD nor the athletic department yesterday "shared key details of the budget -- such as the total dollar amount of the budget or any line item information about the budget." During a brief presentation, the BOD was told the athletic department budget would increase by 6%, but "no dollar amount was mentioned." The athletic department last night "provided a one-page summary of the budget" that showed "budgeted expenses" of $99.86M, which is up from the '18 budget total of $93.66M. KU Chancellor Douglas Girod, who serves as Kansas Athletics Inc. Chair, said that the athletic department for the most part had been "exempted from the cuts." The finances of the athletics department are "different from most other departments because Kansas Athletics Inc. is its own separate nonprofit, although it is wholly controlled by the university." Girod said that revenue the athletic department "receives from its own operations -- everything from ticket sales to donor contributions to Big 12 television revenue -- wasn’t subject to the across-the-board budget cuts that other departments were facing." Lawhorn reports Kansas Athletics Inc. does "receive some direct financial support from the university’s coffers." In past years, that “direct institutional support” has totaled about $1.5-1.6M. Girod said that Kansas Athletics Inc. would "see a reduction in that direct support amount" (LAWRENCE JOURNAL-WORLD, 6/28).
SPOT TO FILL: Girod said that KU expects to hire a new AD "in the next two weeks." In K.C., Jesse Newell notes Girod did not say whether he had started interviews with candidates. However, Girod said that he was "pleased with the interest the position had received." He appears to have "kept his inner circle tight," as several KU boosters noted information about the search has "not been relayed to them." KU hired Korn Ferry's Jed Hughes to "assist with the selection process." Sources said that they believe Girod is "willing to pay up if the right person becomes available." This would be a "change from years past." Former KU AD Sheahon Zenger, who signed a "three-year contract extension last summer, made a base salary of $700,000." That amount "ranked sixth among eight Big 12 athletic directors in total compensation" (K.C. STAR, 6/28).
