Texas AD Chris Del Conte's Extension Comes With Huge Raise

The Univ. of Texas is set to reward Chris Del Conte with a "new contract and huge raise that will make him one of the highest paid" ADs in the nation, according to Brian Davis of the AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN. The UT System BOR is expected to "approve a new deal" that stretches out to '27 and is worth just over $18M guaranteed. The new deal also includes the "equivalent of buyout clause." Del Conte's new deal starts at $2.080M annually for FY '20 and escalates to $2.455M by '27. He can "receive bonuses for athletic department performance ranging from $150,000 to $250,000 over the life of the deal." On Del Conte's watch, the UT athletics has been "totally remade." His "signature achievement is going on a barnstorming mission" to raise $125M for the "long-dreamed south end zone renovation of Royal-Memorial Stadium." Del Conte also "created Bevo Boulevard, a new pre-game, interactive fan experience outside Royal-Memorial Stadium." He "hired an executive team to oversee pre-game concerts, marketing and ticket sales." UT on Saturday announced a $130M gift from the Moody Foundation of Galveston to call the school's new basketball arena the Moody Center (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 11/13). In San Antonio, Nick Moyle notes Bevo Blvd. and Longhorn City Limits have created a "fair-like feel" around football games, and the "overall reception for his projects and changes has been warm aside from some issues with student ticketing" (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 11/13).