Boise State First Known FBS School To Give Coaches Furloughs

Boise State head football coach Bryan Harsin is among the employees required to take a furloughGETTY IMAGES

Boise State coaches will be "required to take furloughs as the university deals with funding shortfalls due to the coronavirus pandemic," according to Ron Counts of the IDAHO STATESMAN. The university has lost nearly $10M due to canceled events, and all school employees who are "paid more than $40,000 a year are required to take furloughs." Since most Boise State football coaches make more than $150,000 per year, they will "fall into the highest tier of furlough days at 10" (IDAHO STATESMAN, 4/22). THE ATHLETIC's Dave Southorn noted Boise State is the first FBS school "known to have coaches take furloughs, preventing them from working at all," and the move is a "troubling sign for schools of Boise State’s size." Boise State is "one of the most visible Group of 5 programs, and the big step of furloughs speaks to the current challenges and the ones ahead" (THEATHLETIC.com, 4/21).