Long's deal is currently the second-largest contract for an AD at a public Big 12 schoolgetty images
The Univ. of Kansas named former Arkansas AD Jeff Long to the same position, and Long "signed a five-year contract," according to Benton Smith of the LAWRENCE JOURNAL-WORLD. Long, at Arkansas from '08-17, brings "more than two decades of experience in athletic administration" at the D-I level to KU. Long will be "officially introduced" in Lawrence on Wednesday and will "start his role Aug. 1." Long replaces former KU AD Sheahon Zenger, whom KU Chancellor Douglas Girod fired in May. Long's contract will pay him $1.5M per year, and of that amount, $1.3M is "paid by private funds" from Kansas Athletics Inc., with the "remaining $200,000 paid by the university." Long's deal is "currently the second-largest contract" for an AD at a public Big 12 school, behind the $1.55M-per-year extension to which Oklahoma's Joe Castiglione "agreed this past May." Long comes to KU after a "seven-week search process headed by Girod" and former KU interim AD Drue Jennings (LAWRENCE JOURNAL-WORLD, 7/6). In Kansas, Matt Galloway notes Long served as the inaugural CFP selection committee chair in '14 and '15, and "remained a member of the committee" through '17. Jennings said KU athletics is in "good hands" under Long's leadership. Korn Ferry's Jed Hughes also "played a key role" in Long's hiring (TOPEKA CAPITAL-JOURNAL, 7/6).
COVERING THE BASES: In K.C., Newell & Bedore report Long's contract "provides some security in case KU receives NCAA punishment," as the men's basketball program has "recently been linked to the FBI's probe into college basketball." The document states that if KU is "put on probation or has NCAA restrictions in football, volleyball, men's basketball or women's basketball based on events that took place before July 4, 2018, the duration of his deal will be extended 'equal to the length of the penalties.'" Long's contract also has a "hefty buyout -- at least early on -- for other colleges who might pursue him." He will have a $3M buyout if he "leaves before the start of Year 3, with that number decreasing" to $1.5M before the start of Year 4 and $1M ahead of the beginning of Year 5 (K.C. STAR, 7/6).
STAMP OF APPROVAL: In Kansas, Matt Tait writes "within minutes of KU announcing Long as the 11th AD in school history, dozens of glowing reviews about Long the administrator, Long the leader and Long the man made their way around the internet." People throughout college athletics "painted a picture of KU doing about as well as could be expected in hiring Long." Instead of hiring from the mid-major level and "hoping to catch the next big thing on a list of up-and-coming" ADs, Girod and company "hired a man who has been there and done that." Right now, it is "as much the way Kansas went about finding long as it is Long's accomplishments that have many believing this was a good move by KU." One Pac-12 administrator said that it was "as good of a hire as KU could have hoped to make" (LAWRENCE JOURNAL-WORLD, 7/6). In K.C., Jesse Newell writes hiring Long is the "biggest move that Girod has made -- and perhaps the biggest one he will make -- as the new man in KU's top position." Two of the "main attributes Girod was looking for" was an "ability to build a football program and also energize a fan base that will need to give money if KU Athletics hopes to raise" its proposed $350M for a Memorial Stadium renovation. Long "appears to check both of these boxes" (K.C. STAR, 7/6).
