Oh, so many choices.
Let’s get target one out of the way: Steve Pederson.
Fifth-highest paid was athletic director Steve Pederson. His total compensation of $844,008 included base pay of $500,161, bonus and incentive compensation of $283,333, other reportable compensation of $10,674, retirement and other deferred compensation of $35,525 and $14,315 in non-taxable benefits.
Now due to the quirk in the state of public records (read: insane lobbying to keep as such; treatment of Temple, Lincoln, PSU and Pitt in terms of Pennsylvania open records laws), it isn’t the easiest thing to compare. Still, it is a good roughing tool thanks to the USA Today databases. The AD salary surveys has Pederson’s total compensation lower which is important. The USA Today survey is an excellent resource but it is hardly perfect.
The USA Today survey puts Pederson in the top-40. But the tax reporting suggests closer to top-20. Now before you fly off the handle, please keep in mind that if the differential between what the USA Today survey found for Pederson versus what Pitt ultimately reported then it is safe to assume that there are some more discrepancies in the list. That said, we can safely assume his pay rate is somewhere in the top-30 for ADs.
I don’t have a particularly strong feeling with regards to Pederson. I’m not a big fan, but when put strictly in context of his performance post-Nebraska, I don’t particularly hate. Sorry I’m so mushy-middle but that’s where I am. That said, seeing where his compensation lands him nationally has to make even the biggest Pederson supporter say, WTF? I guess it helps to have that relationship with Chancellor Nordenberg.
The next issue is the headliner of the article, Jamie Dixon.
The 34 percent raise pushed Mr. Dixon’s total earnings above $2.4 million and is reflected in the latest federal IRS form 990 filed by the university. The document generally covers the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012, though pay information listed on it is for calendar year 2011 and is the most current available, officials said.
…
Mr. Dixon’s total compensation was listed on the 990 as $2,445,682. It included base pay of $1,350,020, bonus and incentive compensation of $925,862, other reportable compensation of $25,260, retirement and other deferred compensation of $129,400 and non-taxable benefits of $15,140.
His earnings the previous year totaled just over $1.8 million.
Now the bonus and incentive compensation is a huge this time around. Suggesting that Dixon hit some particular benchmarks — presumably in terms years of service and wins that pushed it higher. Again, while the USA Today database is very informative — broadly — it is not detailed accuracy and shouldn’t be treated as such. But no matter how you slice it, Jamie Dixon is among the top-20 coaches in terms of compensation.
This should not be surprising. Both in terms of accomplishments and the interest each year. The pursuit of Dixon from other schools has been a nearly annual event. It has driven his salary up as the interest has continued. You can question the value, be pissed at the system in place in college sports with coaching contracts. But I’m not going to fault Dixon and his agent for using the system to their benefit.
Also worth noting, that according to the USA Today database, Sean Miller took in over $2.5 million that same year. His base compensation listed at $2.1 million. A less than subtle reminder that it would take a lot of money to get Miller to leave Arizona.
One final thing.
The second-highest earner at Pitt last year was former head football coach Todd Graham at $1,982,793. His total compensation included base pay of $1,010,120, bonus and incentive compensation of $916,399, other reportable compensation of $18,619, retirement and other deferred compensation of $27,973 and non-taxable benefits of $9,682.
Aaaannnddd… turning once again to the USA Today databases.
Gee, um I vaguely recall a certain Fraud claiming he didn’t take any increase in pay to leave Pitt for his latest dream job. Oh, I know. Stunning that there is evidence of yet another lie.
The numbers suggest Pitt isn’t cheap as far as Cyanides salary is concerned.
Likewise, part of his job is to raise funds. The lack of funds raised falls on Cyanides shoulders.
Exactly what is it you think Pederson is compensated for that he has succeeded in doing? Hiring football coaches? Raising funds? Securing new facilities? Putting bright people beneath him and letting them succeed?
Seriously, this is a job that requires leadership and whatever you and I disagree on (much it seems), is there any doubt that he has zero leadership skills and results?
Common.I have one question I again ask you and all on the board.
Do you donate to Pitt because of, in spite of or not at all because of Pederson?
I just received my mailer from Cyanide.
No vision in request for money. Just give?
Give people a goal (new track for instance) a vision of the future.
Cyanide is exhibit A is luxurious welfare program of Pitts’ athletic department.
Also, go back to the last thread. I have a potentially hopeful analogy for you.
And BTW, no I didn’t say WTF….
B. Agreed Rev George…discussing a man’s earnings is irrelevant. Stevie P’s incompetence can stand on it’s own.
C. I know several BIG Donors personally (both are doctors and Pitt alums) and they despise Stevie P. and think he is an arrogant incompetant asshole! Their words not mine.
D. If we(Pitt Blatherites) were on the Board of Trustees and wrote a job description of how to succeed as Pitt’s AD and used the current track record of Stevie P as a guide, we would all be fired.
E. I still do not know what pictures he has of Nordy in a hotel (dead girl or live boy! old expression) but they must be doozies!!
Vikral Chatwal
Other than the regular season victories Dixon lovers crow about as a substitute for NCAA Tournament success, what has Pederson won?
1) it is well documented that most, if not all, BE teams had applied to the ACC just like Pitt (in fact, the LVille AD expressed outrage that the ACC would pick Pitt instead of them), and
2) if it weren’t for BC AD DeFillippo, then UConn would have been selected for ACC membership instead of Pitt (again well documented)
If Pederson’s job is to promote all Pitt sports, where’s the baseball coverage?
My 10 year old nephew would have known to say yes if asked.
Hell, we talked about the ACC/Big Ten right here on the Blather YEARS ago. Everyone knew the BE was a dead man walking.
Don’t know how new you are to the Blather, but, this is not revisionist history, Chas has archives.
Our only debate on here was would we rather be in the ACC or Big Ten if we ever got the oppurtunity.
Ok, he said yes. That a boy!!!
– JD has gotten his share of criticism here for another early NCAA exit and for the number of his players leaving, and
– many here has raised concerns about HCPC’s recruiting and the hiring of his DC
Stevie did a great job in his first term here (note that I am not as put off as many others here for the lack of an on-campus stadium), but nonetheless, he deserved being re-hired. This doesn’t mean that he is untouchable (just like Johhny Majors wasn’t in his second stint here.)
The fact is I can’t imagine anyone who contribute to this site (and many of us are professionals) botching his job like he did in December 2010, which is the most important task a BCS AD has. Further, he had previous exerience botching a FB HC firing/hiring.
I would guarantee that anyone of us who would have made such a similar, grevious error would have been sent packing. Lucky for Steve, I really don’t think his boss gives damn (even though he makes less $ than the AD.)
ACC because of Pederson?! Really??
i read a post to day that makes no sence
it said the reason pitt did not sign kane is they
would like to have achraf yacoubou a sg who would have 3 years to play if true that is the dumb
the reason it is dumb is this achraf has to sit out a year so bye the time he played kane would be out of here.
plus they have 3 to give before we get to 13
that would only make sence if we had just one to give.
if was from a national sports writer thatis the
only reason i did not blow the post off.
but it makes no sence.
I do give him credit for the Pete.
However, that quickly sours for having no plan for the football teams future.
Again, not hindsight. Was said ad nauseum when the decision was made, and not just about Pitt Stadium.
Don’t read into this that this is a “tearing Pitt Stadium” down argument. It is not. Has nothing to do with Pitt Stadium.
It was his decision, to put a college football team in a pro stadium.
Has never worked. Anywhere. Was known and bitched about when he did it.
I would have been ok with, “hey, we’re going to play in Heinz Field for 5 years, and here is what my phase II will be for the football team”.
There was no phase II. Just move the team into Heinz Field.
Poor. Very poor.
Kane maybe headed towards my neck of the woods. Memphis of all places.
To credit Pederson for tearing down Pitt Stadium without a replacement plan is just plain foolish.
from purdue commited to SD STATE and he still has
summer school to do before he can transfer.
so maybe you can officaley commit to a school but not sign till you are done.
who might or might not sign with them it is dumb
i say a bird in hand is better then two in the bush
I’ve been on record for years that I believe this program needs stability. Since Sherill left, Pitt has had 8 head coaches in 30 years .. and I didn’t even count Haywood .. and of course, the last few years has been a travesty.
Playing in an area of declining population in an NFL city with a lack of consistent commitment from the adminsitration, of course, will alwasy be major factors.
want to i get that but the stadium is gone has been gone for a lot of years and it is not comeing back
for many years if at all.
but we keep beating this dead horse over and over.
and if that was all there was to talk abought that would be ok.
but we have a BB team that is 3 players short and might go to 4 short
a foot ball team that has one commit when penn state and outhers have 9 commits.
a baseball team that is haveing a really good season
a bb player who might be a top ten pick in the NBA DRAFT.
A BB coach who has a problem with players leaveing the team like rats leaveing a sinking ship
and geting new players to sign up.
and we talk aought a stadium that is dead and gone
i get it you can talk abought what you want
just saying .
“I’ve always tried to avoid conversations and comparisons about other people’s paychecks. It doesn’t solve anything and often leads to backbiting if not outright disputes.”
Comment by Rev. George Mehaffey 05.19.13 @ 3:55 pm
No. Not “backbiting,” please.. And as if “backbiting” first and “disputes” secondary.
Geez..
No more 5’s are comming to Pitt. With enough recuits like Robinson and Young and the week non conference schedule we can get to the NCAA.’ Last year was our only chance beyond the elite eight.
Changes, in my opinion, played 30 minutes or more a game with no resrictions on his offensive game -the game he showed to the NBA and Norlens Noels.
Beginning of the season have Taylor work to loss weight to play the 4 as Adams enforcer.
Woodall becomes 3 guard, certainly not team captain and leader. Robinson is floor leader boosts his finds and Zeigler, Moore, do nor transfer because of Dixon’s blantant favortism to the 9 best player on the team.
Cyanide Steve is a poor AD, having lived off what he helped accomplish (at much debt and litigation) over a decade ago.
Compounding the sinister aspect of his compensation is Cyanides direct role in Grahams compensation.
Let’s be real. Criminally overpaid people like Cyanide erode credibility outside the university and worse still, inside the university family.
Donors such as me take notice of accountability in reverse and those within the university ask themselves rhetorically “who does he have pictures of with a sheep”?
I call him cyanide because he is an internal poison for the university tucked right under our noses AND NO ONE HAS THE STONES OR BRAINS TO DO WHAT THIS FINE UNIVERSITY DESERVES!