01-27-2018, 01:29 AM
The Western Kentucky board of regents, in an executive committee meeting Friday, approved an addendum to raise the annual salary of men's basketball coach Rick Stansbury.
“The increase in Rick Stansbury’s compensation is through private funds and moves his base salary from the sixth highest in Conference USA to the second highest, an increase he has certainly earned," WKU athletic director Todd Stewart said in a statement. "When Rick was hired on March 27, 2016, WKU basketball faced many daunting challenges. We had a seven player roster, only five were healthy, only three had played during the 2015-16 season and literally none of the seven scholarship players were guards. Our RPI was 158 and our per game home attendance average of 3,672 was our program’s lowest total since 1999.
"The consistent dedication and relentless work ethic Rick has exhibited since the day he was hired has positively impacted every area of our program on and off the court. Today, we are a half-game out of first in Conference USA with an RPI of 45 and our per game home attendance average is at its highest point since 2009. This is an exciting time for our basketball program, and we look forward to another great crowd (Saturday) night for the Marshall game as our players and coaches continue their pursuit of our first regular season conference championship since 2009."
Stansbury, previously making a base salary of $500,000, is now in line to make $650,000 per year. The increase in salary will be raised through private funds, not through the school's athletic budget or the state's budget.
The second-year WKU coach will also now have a buyout of $1 million up from a previous amount of $750,000.
“I’d like to thank the Board, President Caboni and Director of Athletics Todd Stewart for their commitment to me and our basketball program," Stansbury said in a release. "The timing is not ideal, but this is a way for me to show commitment back to the university. My total focus is on this basketball team and putting them in the best position possible to compete for a championship.”
Stansbury, who spent 14 seasons coaching Mississippi State, was hired March 27, 2016. He's led the Hilltoppers to a 29-23 record and the current teams is tied for first place in Conference USA.
Incentives for Stansbury remain the same as they were at the time of his initial hiring: 2.5 percent of his base salary for a conference coach of the year award, 5 percent of his base salary for a national coach of the year award, or Academic Progress Rating of 940 or better and of 970 or better, a regular-season conference championship, a regular-season RPI of 30 or better, an NCAA Tournament appearance and an NCAA Tournament second-round victory; 10 percent of his base salary for NCAA Tournament third and fourth-round wins; 20 percent of his base salary for a fifth-round win; 25 percent of his base salary for a semifinal victory and 30 percent of his base salary for an NCAA championship. Stansbury can also receive a $10,000 bonus for an NIT semifinal win and $20,000 for an NIT championship.
— Follow WBKO sportswriter Chad Bishop on Twitter @MrChadBishop
“The increase in Rick Stansbury’s compensation is through private funds and moves his base salary from the sixth highest in Conference USA to the second highest, an increase he has certainly earned," WKU athletic director Todd Stewart said in a statement. "When Rick was hired on March 27, 2016, WKU basketball faced many daunting challenges. We had a seven player roster, only five were healthy, only three had played during the 2015-16 season and literally none of the seven scholarship players were guards. Our RPI was 158 and our per game home attendance average of 3,672 was our program’s lowest total since 1999.
"The consistent dedication and relentless work ethic Rick has exhibited since the day he was hired has positively impacted every area of our program on and off the court. Today, we are a half-game out of first in Conference USA with an RPI of 45 and our per game home attendance average is at its highest point since 2009. This is an exciting time for our basketball program, and we look forward to another great crowd (Saturday) night for the Marshall game as our players and coaches continue their pursuit of our first regular season conference championship since 2009."
Stansbury, previously making a base salary of $500,000, is now in line to make $650,000 per year. The increase in salary will be raised through private funds, not through the school's athletic budget or the state's budget.
The second-year WKU coach will also now have a buyout of $1 million up from a previous amount of $750,000.
“I’d like to thank the Board, President Caboni and Director of Athletics Todd Stewart for their commitment to me and our basketball program," Stansbury said in a release. "The timing is not ideal, but this is a way for me to show commitment back to the university. My total focus is on this basketball team and putting them in the best position possible to compete for a championship.”
Stansbury, who spent 14 seasons coaching Mississippi State, was hired March 27, 2016. He's led the Hilltoppers to a 29-23 record and the current teams is tied for first place in Conference USA.
Incentives for Stansbury remain the same as they were at the time of his initial hiring: 2.5 percent of his base salary for a conference coach of the year award, 5 percent of his base salary for a national coach of the year award, or Academic Progress Rating of 940 or better and of 970 or better, a regular-season conference championship, a regular-season RPI of 30 or better, an NCAA Tournament appearance and an NCAA Tournament second-round victory; 10 percent of his base salary for NCAA Tournament third and fourth-round wins; 20 percent of his base salary for a fifth-round win; 25 percent of his base salary for a semifinal victory and 30 percent of his base salary for an NCAA championship. Stansbury can also receive a $10,000 bonus for an NIT semifinal win and $20,000 for an NIT championship.
— Follow WBKO sportswriter Chad Bishop on Twitter @MrChadBishop