Damon Evans gets new five-year contract, big raise (UPDATED)
Athens — A new contract for athletics director Damon Evans. A facelift for Stegeman Coliseum. And a new plaza for Sanford Stadium.
Those will be the results of actions taken Wednesday by the board of directors of the University of Georgia Athletic Association.
The board, at its regular quarterly meeting, voted to give Evans a new five-year contract with a big boost in pay and to spend $21.3 million on new construction projects.
The details:
– In executive session with Evans out of the room, the board approved a new contract that will mean a $110,000 raise for Evans effective July 1 — from his current $440,000 salary to $550,000. The contract calls for Evans to receive additional $20,000 raises in each subsequent year, putting his salary at $630,000 in the final year of the deal. Also, he will receive a $250,000 longevity bonus if he remains in the job when the contract expires on July 1, 2015.
– The board voted to proceed with a project that will renovate and widen the concourses of Stegeman Coliseum, adding restrooms and concessions stands and giving the 46-year-old building a modern glass facade on two sides.
– And the board voted to create a 45,000-square-foot entry plaza in the Reed Alley area behind the north stands of Sanford Stadium — a project designed to add amenities on football game days and enhance that part of campus year-round.
While approving the $21.3-million expenditure on the two construction projects, the board did not decide how to pay for them. The board’s finance committee will weigh whether to pay for the projects from the Athletic Association’s cash reserves, which are projected to reach $60 million by the end of this fiscal year, or to seek financing at attractive interest rates.
“The great thing is, we can move forward because we know we have the money there, $60 million sitting in that reserve fund,” Evans said.
The action on a new contract for Evans came with 17 months remaining on his current deal.
“I’m touched deeply by it,” Evans told the board after it emerged from executive session.
The new contract will replace the final year of the old deal, which was to have raised Evans’ salary to $460,000 on July 1. On that date, he will receive a $100,000 longevity bonus due under the old contract.
Evans, who grew up in Gainesville and played football at Georgia, has been UGA’s athletics director since July 1, 2004.
“He’s already become a nationally recognized figure in athletics, and we are fortunate to have him,” UGA President Michael Adams said Wednesday.
“I think he’s done an extraordinary job. … And there’s not been a whiff of impropriety during that six-year period. If you’re the president of an institution, that means a whole lot.”
Adams said the average salary of athletics directors in the SEC last year was $532,000.
Evans, 40, exuded enthusiasm about the new contract.
“We’ve got a lot left to do,” he said. “I want to see us grow in so many different phases. … I want to see us recognized as the elite program, and I sincerely mean that.
“I’m fortunate,” Evans added. “Who wouldn’t want to be the athletic director at the University of Georgia? … An old country guy from Gainesville, Georgia — who would have ever thought? It is just a blessing.”
Evans also was pleased by the board’s vote on the construction projects, which he said are designed to enhance the fan experience at events. Neither will add seats.
University architects said the plaza will be completed by the start of the 2010 football season and the coliseum renovation by the start of the 2010-11 basketball and gymnastics seasons.
The coliseum will look significantly different on the north and south sides. The outer walls will be moved out as far as the roof overhangs the current structure, adding more than 10,000 square feet of concourse space. The glass-clad exterior “will have a dramatic effect,” UGA campus architect Danny Sniff said.
The Reed Alley plaza is designed to be part of Sanford Stadium on game days, adding restrooms and concessions stands, but also to be left open to campus on other days.
“It’s a combination,” Evans said, “of something that is good for the university throughout the entire year and for those six or seven Saturdays will give our patrons a better experience.”
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114 comments Add your comment
Courtney
February 3rd, 2010
7:55 pm
Why is this happening? Why would anyone deserve this kind of raise? It is artificial? Is some other school coming after him, NO! Would he leave if his salary stayed the same, NO! The nation’s CEOs get richer and the average Joe gets poorer.
Buckhead Bulldog
February 3rd, 2010
7:56 pm
UGASlobberknocker
February 3rd, 2010
6:22 pm
I agree with EVERYTHING you wrote 100%. Right on the money, bro’!
Billy O
February 3rd, 2010
8:00 pm
Enter your comments here
Old Dawg
February 3rd, 2010
8:01 pm
I’m glad that my educator wife is taking her furlough days to help provide Damon with his raise. And, the closest he’s ever been to a “Country Guy” is buying a can of mixed veggies at the grocery store. I wonder what Adams will do for him when he becomes the head of the Board of Regents.
Billy O
February 3rd, 2010
8:02 pm
Congrats to Damon Evans for a job well done! Go Dawgs…..
GoDOGS
February 3rd, 2010
8:06 pm
Louie- What are you talking about? Just a lot of hate filled ramblings that make zero sense. You are mad and jealous of UGA. We get it…..please get over it. Your bumbling blather reflects the GT freshman tool you truly are, lil’ boy.
Wonderdog
February 3rd, 2010
8:08 pm
Great faculty and staff have to take furlough and class sizes are bigger than Eva(ns).
Tom
February 3rd, 2010
8:16 pm
Shouldn’t Damon be the DC? He’s making almost the same. This makes me sick
Tom
February 3rd, 2010
8:17 pm
So does Evans or Adams have to take furlough days?
.
February 3rd, 2010
8:23 pm
Hog Eater,Wonderdog, Courtney, and Old Dog, etc.,
So are you all saying the Athletic Dept. should funnel money over to University for academics? You do realize the Athletic Dept. is a self funding department of the University, right?
cookieman
February 3rd, 2010
8:25 pm
Evans has done a great job. This raise puts him on average with rest of the sec AD’s. I can’t believe some of the stupid comments.
.
February 3rd, 2010
8:29 pm
The University of Georgia Athletics Board = gave Damon a raise.
http://www.georgiadogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=8800&ATCLID=325251
The Georgia Board of Regents or President Adams = did NOT give Damon a raise.
Got it?
charles
February 3rd, 2010
8:29 pm
I have no problem in paying our AD big bucks,but I want him to demand excellence. Giving Andy Landers a new 3 year contract wasn’t a good sign and I fear he won’t demand enough from Richt. We need a great coach and Richt isn’t it.
Small Johnson
February 3rd, 2010
8:30 pm
Since I have to continue to anty up $2000 every year to keep my tickets and watch a $4million a year coaching staff continue to lose to FL every year……………….
I would like to make a request for new toilets
Sometimes the moment hits and a clean toilet is nowhere to be found to drop my friends off
I thought since all this hard earned money by us fans are being spent I thought it wouldn’t hurt
Anyone out there with a request
Louie
February 3rd, 2010
8:32 pm
TO: godog(gies)
No hate, oh little one, just stating the obvious.
Hurts, huh son. Go tell Damon you feel great to be a joja bullmutt today.
People like you make me LAUGH.
STILL L M F A O
Denver Dog
February 3rd, 2010
8:39 pm
The dawgs rated 7th best in the sec in recruiting this year by rivals.com and Evans gets 500K+
nice.
Go Dawgs
February 3rd, 2010
8:42 pm
6th best in the sec pal
PROSPECT COMMITMENTS
School TOTAL
Commits
Commits
Commits Avg Stars
Points
1 Florida 28 4 18 5 3.89 2,938
2 Auburn 32 3 13 13 3.50 2,485
3 Alabama 26 1 15 9 3.62 2,308
4 LSU 29 1 15 13 3.59 2,255
5 Tennessee 25 1 12 9 3.44 2,048
6 Georgia 19 0 9 9 3.42 1,581
7 Ole Miss 25 0 8 16 3.28 1,554
8 South Carolina 23 1 5 11 3.04 1,342
9 Mississippi State 26 0 5 14 2.92 1,032
10 Arkansas 25 0 3 18 2.96 766
11 Kentucky 26 0 1 18 2.77 742
12 Vanderbilt 24 0 1 17 2.79 469
Old Dawg
February 3rd, 2010
8:46 pm
…and Adams doesn’t control the athletic board! You’re brilliant.
GoDOGS
February 3rd, 2010
8:47 pm
Really Louie? You are the one coming to the UGA blogs nightly to spread your venom of UGA. I think you look like a true fool, so, no, it doesn’t “hurt” in the least. You are a little loser, who when/if you graduate from Tech will find out that envy and jealousy are not good hiring qualities, punk! Little flamers like you make me gag.
whatever
February 3rd, 2010
8:49 pm
just thought i would add fuel to the fire….he drives a pimpin BMW around athens. has a hot wife to…… folks get over it and stop being jealous
whatever
February 3rd, 2010
8:51 pm
and to people that don’t like M Adams. Get over the fact that he kicked dooley to the curb, the UNIVERSITY is consistently getting more national attention for ACADEMICS since he took over. Magna Cum Laude B.B.A class of 2009
GaDawg
February 3rd, 2010
8:52 pm
I really do not think many of you realize the sacrifices it takes to be in a position of leadership. It is not an 8 to 5 job. I am a CEO of a small company and I do get paid well, not quite that well, but! We don’t get off a 5 and go to the kids soccer matches, movies, etc. We miss meals with family and family events. We work evenings, weekends, and sometimes holidays. But we chose to be in these positions. It is not as glamorous as you may think. How many of you would want the responsibility of the well being of the employees athletic association and the student-athletes? I would say not too many.
Damon has done a good job. Yes he was hand picked, but there are many companies and colleges that are hand picking their successors. Nothing wrong with that.
So, keep in mind when you are at the kids soccer game, having dinner with your spouse or significant other, that the CEO of your company, or the AD or HC at your favorite college is still working to make sure that you have a job to go to the next day.
GaDawg
February 3rd, 2010
8:56 pm
charles – Any suggestions on who a great coach would be? Seems Richt’s 4th best winning percentage among active coaches isn’t good enough. I’m sure Damon and Adams would be open to suggestions. Maybe you should apply.
Louie
February 3rd, 2010
9:04 pm
I think go dog(gie) blew a gasket, my god what a moron.
And, yes my little neck, I WILL graduate, see you at the drive thru at Burger King.
Bet they let you stand on a milk crate so you can see your customers.
You just FLAMMED OUT punk.
Get a life, don’t get so worked up.
I know today has been rough on you.
And quit gagging, go ahead and swallow…
Like you always do.
Al Ciraldo
February 3rd, 2010
9:10 pm
TELL EM LIKE IT IS LOUIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Circus Act
February 3rd, 2010
9:17 pm
Another Damon blunder…. hiring of Mark Fox…. Dawgs blew another game tonite against ARKY
Sid
February 3rd, 2010
9:22 pm
winning percentages??? what good are winning percentages when you haven’t won any NC’s. When one of your big time sports, football, is just above mediocrity and your other one, basketball, is non-existent and going nowhere you really deserve a hefty raise. He’ll make a good Congressman one day.
Al Ciraldo
February 3rd, 2010
9:24 pm
KUDOS , SID
GaDawg
February 3rd, 2010
9:30 pm
How many NC’s did Bowden win? Spurrier? Tuberville? Look at the great Charlie Weiss, how many NC’s did Notre Dame win under his watch? UGA should have been in the BCS in 2008. They destroyed the Cinderella Hawaii. The BCS is political, but that is about to come to a crashing end very soon. ESPN won’t be able to control it like they have in the past.
UGA has been a consistent top ten program for the last 9 years. One year does not make a failure.
walmart Dawg
February 3rd, 2010
9:36 pm
Hey Gadawg….. Sounds like you have a tough life with your call girls, money and boozing glamorous lifestyle. Maybe you need to get out to the soccer games and spend time with your family and pay all of your earnings in high gas prices to get your children to school and yourself to work each day.Oh but you need to ride in your expensive automobile with a hefty expense account while all the while you dont have a clue what a average Joe goes through day in and day out. Just like an out of touch politician you just dont get it. Damon Evans should refuse the raise if he was a real guy.
mason
February 3rd, 2010
10:07 pm
(( 30-24 ))
hahahahahaha
Glad it still hurts soooo bad techmites.
Dawg Fud
February 3rd, 2010
10:12 pm
QUESTION: when is Richt getting his indoor practice facility?
Dawg Fud
February 3rd, 2010
10:14 pm
Circus Act,
you are a total moron if you think Mark Fox cannot coach. if you watched any of the games or knew anything about the team youi would see it is not a coaching issue — we have no depth.
GaDawg
February 3rd, 2010
10:26 pm
walmart Dawg proves the point. You have no clue. I wished I had an expensive car. I drive an F150 truck. I pay the same high gas prices that you do and shop at Walmart also. When I said small company I meant it. I go unpaid at times so that my employees and vendors can get paid. You have no idea the taxes that I pay to the IRS so that you get handouts. I pay double the taxes that you do, personal and business. I would love to go to a soccer game and spend more time with the family, but if I did who would make the decisions required to run a business that keeps your butt off unemployment? There are more of us, CEO’s of small companies that sacrifice to keep people employed, than there are CEO’s on Wall Street. So next time you attack me and make accusations, keep in mind it CEO’s of small companies keeping you off unemployment. Next time your boss offers you a raise I bet you do not turn it down.
Indoor Dawg
February 3rd, 2010
10:33 pm
With all of this money, is it too much to ask for an indoor football facility?? It is embarrassing, I think we are the only SEC team without one!!
DawgSinceBirth
February 3rd, 2010
10:47 pm
Foley Field BETTER BE NEXT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And SOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sucka
February 3rd, 2010
11:08 pm
HE DIDN’T ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING BIG YET…….THIS IS NOT RIGHT !!!
Tree
February 3rd, 2010
11:09 pm
I think he got the raise because he convinced CMR to fire CWM. But who is going to convince him to fire CMR. CMR just cannot recruit in this state. He will get some leftovers from the state of Florida. He can’t secure the border. There are just too many good talents leaving the state every year.
UGA student
February 4th, 2010
12:16 am
Just FYI – The Board for the Athletic Association is made up of:Faculty: President Michael F. Adams – Chairman, Mr. Timothy P. Burgess – Treasurer, Professor Jere Morehead – Secretary Faculty Athletics Representative, Professor Wyatt W. Anderson, Mr. Rodney Bennett, Professor Anne L. Sweaney, Professor Jace Weaver, Professor Scott Weinberg, Professor David Shipley. Alumni: Mr. William C. Archer III, Mr. Robert D. Bishop, Mr. Mack H. Guest III, Dr. Thomas W. Lawhorne, Jr., Mr. Donald M. Leeburn III, Mr. Patrick S. Pittard, Ms. Swann Seiler. Students: Ms. Brittany Lee, Mr. Hunter Lainhart, Ms. Grace Taylor
So Dr. Adams did play a part in the giving of a raise to Damon Evans.
Whether people seem to realize or not – alot of students base their college attendance decisions on the popularity of the athletic teams of the schools in which they want to attend. These athletic programs that people fuss about bring revenue to the local economy as well – think of all the people on game day that come to Athens, stay in the hotels, spend their money at the restaraunts and grocery stores to buy tailgating supplies.
The Athletic Association is totally self supporting, they receive NO state funding. And they do give back to the university – I believe that they gave $3 million a year for the next 3 years to the academic side of the university.
I wish everyone would realize that these student athletes work hard to earn and keep their scholarships. Not only do they have to take 12-15 hours of classes and maintain their grades, but they have hours of practice and/or workouts every day, they have mandatory study hall and tutoring sessions that they are required to attend. These students work hard to earn their education. The hours that are put in both on and off the field – are way more than any full time job that most people hold.
UGA has 16 different sports that fall under the Athletic Association Umbrella – so Damon is the manager of all of these teams. To say that he does nothing – is not true.
With all this being said – I would like to see the Athletic Association step up and realize that the UGA Baseball program is just as deserving of facility upgrades and improvements than the football & basketball programs!
MESSENGER
February 4th, 2010
12:22 am
Nearly 3 and a half MILLION dollars for an Athletics Director who stands idly by allowing our Offensive Coaching Staff to remain intact, sorry as they most assuredly are; and, who does nothing for the Stegosaurus but waste yet MORE MONEY in this horribly down economy where none of the rest of us are prospering when we all know we must have a new gym not waste money like this on the old one.
Nice football season Damon Evans. Congratulations. 8-5 and a Shreveport bowl game against an opponent who has a LOSING RECORD losing again to Florida, losing again to LSU, losing again to the 7-6 vols too, losing to Okie State who even Houston beat but not us, and losing to 7-6 Kentucky – and in this economy for now this recruiting class barely ranked at all and certainly VOID of Offensive Impact Recruits obviously, Damon Evans gets 3 and a half MILLION DOLLARS.
B.S. Someone write President Obama; I’m sure he would not say kind words about this performance and now 3 and a half million dollars in this belt-tightening 3 year long DEPRESSION.
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[...] you missed it, here’s the wrapup on Wednesday’s actions by the UGA Athletic Board: approval of a new five-year contract for [...]
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February 4th, 2010
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[...] Damon Evans gets a new contract Under the new deal, UGA President Michael Adams said Evans will be paid a $550,000 salary starting on July 1, with annual $20,000 increases on that date each year. His salary will reach $630,000 in the final year of the new contract.In addition, Evans will receive a longevity bonus of $250,000 if he remains in the position for the full five years on the new contract. He’ll get a $100,000 longevity bonus due from the previous contract on July 1 this year. [...]
walmart Dawg
February 4th, 2010
8:38 am
HEY UGA Student…. you sound like one of those who gets a free education that thinks he or she is entitled to get a top paying job once they receive their degree. Let me clue you in on life , there aint no guarantees! When you get or receive a scholarship then of course you are expected and required to do certain requirements at that institution. So when you get out into the real world without mommy and daddy’s help maybe you will really understand what life is all about .So please cut the student athlete hard luck story crap. Damon Evan may deserve a raise but what he got is absurd .Please dont try to make everyone feel bad on his job responsibilities because HE made the choice to pursue the position of AD.
Snoop Dawg
February 4th, 2010
11:33 am
The news just gets worse in Athens. You’d think Athens was Washington the way these overpaid nincompoops demonstrate such arrogant incompetence every day. If you want to see how Evans is doing, plot how many championships UGA won each year the past five years and put them on a graph. You will be going down a hill. As far as raising money, even Barak Obama could make windfall profits with these Koolaid Drinking UGA Bulldog Red/Black zombies that put absolutely zero pressure on Da Preacha Man to coach championship football. Unfortunately, I just put $800 in the mail to them the other day for season tickets. Wonder if I could cancel the check?
…but as I’m thinking about it, I guess that Demon Evans is a bargain @ $500K/year versus Preacha Man Markt Wrecked’s $3M/year.
Keep drinking dat Koolaid Bulldog Nation…
Jona
February 4th, 2010
12:03 pm
Snoop Dawg
Please ask for your money back. I’d hate to think I might be sitting beside your negative @ss at the games.
Gdawg
February 4th, 2010
12:13 pm
Mr. Evans,
What are we going to do about an indoor practice facility for the football team? The football team brings in the vast majority of sports revenues for the university, but you allow UGA to fall behind other comparable facilities in the SEC. If you truly meant what you said (“We’ve got a lot left to do,” he said. “I want to see us grow in so many different phases. … I want to see us recognized as the elite program, and I sincerely mean that”.), then you should immediately begin to propose an indoor football practice facility, and renovate and expand Sanford stadium by 10K seats. Facilities are one of the most effective selling points to a high school senior that is considering our school. However, I would like to thank you for the long over due Stegman Coliseum project. I just hope this renovation is not a bandaid over a shotgun wound. Give CMR and CMF the facilities and these guys will win year in and year out. Don’t procrastinate, these issues should be addressed immediately.
Regards,
Gdawg
.
February 4th, 2010
12:15 pm
We should be building during the recession…and you guys are right…shame on our Association for stockpiling and managing the money well so that they have reserves to pay for new buildings. There will be improvements all over campus, BUT FOLEY NEEDS HELP!!! If we don’t want Evans, then who? And good luck trying to pay less…there are only 2 paid less in the SEC, welcome to the market people. And maybe you should quit your job and go into athletics is you are jealous of the gold standard of salaries.
..
February 4th, 2010
12:16 pm
And by the way, EVERY EMPLOYEE of the UGAAA had to take furlough days. And, your arguments stack up that no one in the state should get a raise since the teachers didn’t (even private companies)
Jona
February 4th, 2010
1:21 pm
Am I missing something? Mark Richt is always talking how bad the football team needs an indoor facility. Why facelifts before needed additions?
Snoop Dawg
February 4th, 2010
4:45 pm
Jona, yes you are missing something. I’ll make sure I’m not sitting next to you at the games. You should be easy to spot, drinking that Koolaid…