Mal Moore contract extended

The compensation committee of the UA board of trustees just gave unanimous approval to extend athletic director Mal Moore’s contract through 2014.

Moore, 70, will get a base salary of $550,000 a year — up from $425,000 a year — over the next four with several incentives possible. For example, if the Crimson Tide football team wins a national title, Moore lands another $50,000.

Moore would also get bonuses for student-athlete academic success. If the overall graduation percentage for all athletes is five percent better than the general undergraduate population, Moore nets an extra $40,000.

Overall, not a bad day for Moore.

Here’s the statement the AD just released through UA media relations:


“The confidence shown in me is humbling, but it is really a show of confidence in our student-athletes, our coaches and our staff. Due to their fine work, we just completed one of the most successful years in our athletic history and our future is bright. There is plenty to accomplish on the conference and national levels and I am looking forward to the challenges ahead. I’m extremely excited about the direction of Alabama athletics.”

Read more in tomorrow’s paper.

Assistant coaches get paid

As expected, a host of Alabama football assistant coaches got nice little pay raises this morning when the UA System Board of Trustees’ compensation committee approved the changes. Here is a quick breakdown:

Joe Pendry from $390,000 to $425,000 (2010-11) and $450,000 (2011-12)
Sal Sunseri from $325,000 to $350,000 (2010-11 and 2011-12)
Jim McElwain from $360,000 to $410,000 (2010-11 and 2011-12)
Bobby Williams from $290,000 to $305,000 (2010-11 and 2011-12)
Scott Cochran from $160,000 to $210,000 (2010-11) and $225,000 (2011-12)

Extensions also approved for Burton Burns, Curt Cignetti, James Davis and director of player development Willie Martin.

For Nick Saban, a few things changed too. A life insurance policy was added and his completion bonuses were restructured. In his contract extension completed before the 2009 season, Saban signed on to receive bonus three times before its expiration in 2017. The latest amendment doesn’t change the $5 million he’ll earn, just when he receives it.

Kirby Smart gets paid

Now approved by the Compensation Committee of the Alabama Board of Trustees, Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart is officially an even better paid coach. After being wooed by Georgia, the Crimson Tide sweetened his deal to stay in Tuscaloosa.

Sweetened = $750,000 per year.

That’s a considerable bump from $360,000 a year. If he leaves, the buyout is $72,000.

The committee also approved contracts for baseball coach Mitch Gaspard, football assistant Jeremy Pruitt and women’s basketball coach Wendell Hudson.

Gaspard gets $175,000/year plus $50,000 talent fee over his three-year deal.

Pruitt will make $190,000 in 2010 and $200,000 in ’11.

Hudson’s contract was extended through 2013 with the same pay $150,000/year plus $145,000 talent fee. His expense allowance is now $12,000 and got a signing bonus of $18,000.