PAC-12 member Utah furloughs entire athletic dept.

[orange79]

The University of Utah will furlough every employee in its athletic department, including Athletic Director Mark Harlan and team coaches because of financial shortfalls in a global pandemic.

U of U furloughs every employee in athletic department, coaches and AD included

The University of Utah will furlough every employee in its athletic department, including Athletic Director Mark Harlan and team coaches because of financial shortfalls in a global pandemic. Harlan released a statement about the furloughs Friday and said the decision was "difficult — but...

kutv.com

 

[orangepassion]

The University of Utah will furlough every employee in its athletic department, including Athletic Director Mark Harlan and team coaches because of financial shortfalls in a global pandemic.

U of U furloughs every employee in athletic department, coaches and AD included

The University of Utah will furlough every employee in its athletic department, including Athletic Director Mark Harlan and team coaches because of financial shortfalls in a global pandemic. Harlan released a statement about the furloughs Friday and said the decision was "difficult — but...

kutv.com

Wonder if it effects recruiting at all.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Yeah, this is a weird story. The people I know up at the U of U are not very enthused about how their administration has handled overall preparation for the return to school in the fall generally. I can't believe this is instilling much confidence.

 

[syrBossHogg]

How does an AD get furloughed?

 

[upperdeck]

furlough them all for a month or everyone take a 10% cut for a yr ish.. is a furlough and unemployement better than a paycut?

 

[SU68]

I'm astounded that a P-5 athletic department in a state flagship school had a pre-pandemic budget so close to the margins that they had to completely shut down.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I'm astounded that a P-5 athletic department in a state flagship school had a pre-pandemic budget so close to the margins that they had to completely shut down.

My understanding is that when they started getting big conference money they got excited about spending like a big conference AD.

 

[longislandcuse]

Probably a pretty good Labor Day Weekend if you’re BYU.

Prime time game Monday Night and your rival’s HC is furloughed...

 

[Orijinal]

This is absolutely insane. This is case in point about how much stupid spending there is in athletics. How many millions does an athletic department like this take in every year? At least 60, 80? And they don't have enough money ...

 

[texascpa]

Why are so many of you surprised? We see the spending reports every year, and many schools don't make money.

 

[SU68]

Why are so many of you surprised? We see the spending reports every year, and many schools don't make money.

I'm surprised because Utah is a state school in a very conservative state. I can't believe that the state government would allow paycheck to paycheck (or worse -- deficit) budgets.

 

[texascpa]

I'm surprised because Utah is a state school in a very conservative state. I can't believe that the state government would allow paycheck to paycheck (or worse -- deficit) budgets.

It's still a state school. How often do we see government organizations actually ran efficiently and within budget?

 

[nzm136]

I'm surprised because Utah is a state school in a very conservative state. I can't believe that the state government would allow paycheck to paycheck (or worse -- deficit) budgets.

Not running deficit is bad business for 2 reasons:
1. Athletic departments are used like PR departments, and there is a customer long term value, such that the cost to attract customers manifests immediately, even though the benefit often appears over many years.
2. Scholarships are included in the cost. The marginal cost to add an extra student isn’t the cost of tuition, even though athletic dept books are dinged with that cost.

in short, with the exception of departments which are insanely profitable and out of areas to spend money with good returns on investment, having an AD that breaks even (sand subsidies from the school) is a sign of terrible management.

EDIT: The above is also reinforced when you account for soft benefits (academic recruiting, engagement, etc).

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

It's still a state school. How often do we see government organizations actually ran efficiently and within budget?

I know this one. The answer is "never". If you don't go over budget, you don't get more money next year.

 

[SU68]

I know this one. The answer is "never". If you don't go over budget, you don't get more money next year.

Unless you're UConn or Rutgers. Apparently their taxpayer paid free ride is over.