MU Extends Contract of Athletic Director Mike Alden to maintain continuity of quality programs

Base salary to remain flat; enhanced incentive package targets performance goals

August 6th, 2009

COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Chancellor Brady Deaton announced today a five-year extension of Athletic Director Mike Alden’s contract, which will now extend through June 30, 2017. This contract extension is designed to support the continuation of Alden’s successful, quality athletic programs and his priority on student-athlete academic performance and sound financial management.

“Mike Alden’s accomplishments at Mizzou have been nothing short of amazing,” Deaton said. “He is responsible for building MU’s Intercollegiate Athletics to its current status of being a national leader in Division I athletics. He has assembled an outstanding team of coaches, staff and student-athletes, who not only are committed to succeeding athletically, but also are committed to social responsibility and academic success. We hope extending Mike’s contract will help assure this continued success in all areas.”

Alden is now entering his 12th year as athletic director, just ending the most successful athletic season in Mizzou’s history, with Big 12 titles in basketball, softball and soccer and a second consecutive Big 12 North Division title in football. Since his arrival, MU has consistently led the Big 12 Conference in graduation and Academic Progress Rates (APR). Last year, the Tigers ranked as the national leader among BCS public institutions in this rating, which measures the academic progress of student-athletes. In addition, Mizzou ranked in the Top 25 nationally, alongside Harvard, Yale and Stanford, for overall APR success among all Division I athletic programs.

“I’m very appreciative of the confidence that Dr. Deaton and the University leadership have in Athletics, and I firmly believe this is a direct reflection of the outstanding job that our coaches, staff and student-athletes are continuing to do here,” Alden said. “Mizzou is home for myself, Rockie and Jake – it’s where we’ve always wanted to be. This allows us the opportunity to continue to be here for a long time, and we’re very grateful for that.”

Key terms of Alden’s new contract include:

• An extension of the current contract from three to eight years. The current contract runs until Aug. 31, 2012. The new contract will run until June 30, 2017.
• No increase in base salary or any other form of guaranteed income. Under the current contract, Alden’s base salary is $287,375, which ranks him approximately ninth in the Big 12, and his overall guaranteed income is $537,375, which is approximately fifth in the Big 12. That income will remain the same under the new contract.
• Any future raises in base salary are limited to the same percentage raises, if any, for MU.
• The new contract gives Alden the potential to earn additional amounts, but only if he achieves specific annual performance goals and remains at the university for at least five years. At the end of each year, any amounts earned for achieving these performance goals will be placed in an “Incentive and Retention Account” that Alden cannot access unless he remains as the MU Athletics Director through June 30, 2014. These performance-based incentives are based on the following:
  • The academic achievement and social responsibility performance of MU student-athletes.
  • The financial performance of the Athletics Department.
  • Continuing to serve as Athletics Director for five years through June 30, 2014.
  • A second opportunity for incentive and retention amounts is available in the final three years of the contract, but only if Alden achieves those annual performance goals and remains as the Athletics Director through June 30, 2017.

“Under Mike’s leadership, Mizzou athletic programs have made significant strides in the classroom, leading all BCS schools in academic performance, and doing a remarkable job on the field as well,” UM System President Gary Forsee said. “We are pleased that Mike and his family will be in Missouri for a very long time into the future.”

Prior to coming to MU, Alden was director of athletics at Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. He has worked in athletic administration for Division I schools since 1985, serving as assistant athletic director for administration at Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz., and as associate athletic director for development at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, N.M.

“Mizzou athletics is a passion throughout the state, so it is wonderful news that Mike has agreed to stay on as athletic director for the next eight years,” University of Missouri Board of Curators Chair Bo Fraser said. “MU athletics has a lot to be proud of, and this contract extension provides the department the continuity needed to keep the momentum going.”

Editors’ Note: To read complete contract, go to:
http://www.mutigers.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/miss/genrel/auto_pdf/mikealden-contractforemploy.