SMU athletics deficit $56.7 million over four years
Mark Norris, Senior Staff Writer, mnorris@smu.edu
Issue date: 4/30/08 Section: News
"It doesn't happen overnight," Orsini said.
Orsini's first budget as athletic director was in 2007 and had losses of $5 million more than the previous year, which was the final one for former athletic director Jim Copeland.
Three big items ballooned the deficit in 2007 - a $400,000 per year deal for basketball coach Matt Doherty, a $600,000 buyout for fired basketball coach Jimmy Tubbs and a contract extension upping Phil Bennett's salary to $500,000 per year.
The 2008 and 2009 budgets are projected to have reductions in the deficit, but are still larger than losses in the Copeland era.
"What I noticed when I got here early on is SMU was falling behind in generating revenue," Orsini said.
To that end he has worked to take advantage of what he calls missed opportunities for sponsorships. That means more advertisements at games, which fans probably noticed this past season, and increased partnerships with businesses for the department.
Orsini also has overhauled most of the leadership within various parts of the department so the people in charge have "more of a business focus."
One item that will not cause additional hits to the budget is the salary of new football coach June Jones. More than $10 million was raised by Orsini for Jones' annual salary of nearly $2 million and the assistants that came with him. The group that raised the funds is called the Circle of Champions and is solely underwriting those costs.
Orsini said the Circle of Champions model worked so well he wants to apply it to other areas of the department. He said it creates a sense of involvement in athletics that keeps people connected.
But ticket sales remain the biggest source of immediate income for the department. That's where the product on the field will help with off-the-field money issues.
"Once they start winning people will support you more," Orsini said.
Orsini's first budget as athletic director was in 2007 and had losses of $5 million more than the previous year, which was the final one for former athletic director Jim Copeland.
Three big items ballooned the deficit in 2007 - a $400,000 per year deal for basketball coach Matt Doherty, a $600,000 buyout for fired basketball coach Jimmy Tubbs and a contract extension upping Phil Bennett's salary to $500,000 per year.
The 2008 and 2009 budgets are projected to have reductions in the deficit, but are still larger than losses in the Copeland era.
"What I noticed when I got here early on is SMU was falling behind in generating revenue," Orsini said.
To that end he has worked to take advantage of what he calls missed opportunities for sponsorships. That means more advertisements at games, which fans probably noticed this past season, and increased partnerships with businesses for the department.
Orsini also has overhauled most of the leadership within various parts of the department so the people in charge have "more of a business focus."
One item that will not cause additional hits to the budget is the salary of new football coach June Jones. More than $10 million was raised by Orsini for Jones' annual salary of nearly $2 million and the assistants that came with him. The group that raised the funds is called the Circle of Champions and is solely underwriting those costs.
Orsini said the Circle of Champions model worked so well he wants to apply it to other areas of the department. He said it creates a sense of involvement in athletics that keeps people connected.
But ticket sales remain the biggest source of immediate income for the department. That's where the product on the field will help with off-the-field money issues.
"Once they start winning people will support you more," Orsini said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
anonymous
posted 4/30/08 @ 3:13 AM CST
Maybe if it wasn't for worsening tailgates, an overzealous police force, and terrible win loss records, people would go to some games. Look at Ole Miss. (Continued…)
Jon
posted 4/30/08 @ 8:28 PM CST
They REALLY need to work on the yellow jacket security folks. They have a military type attitude and you aren't going to keep fans that way. It is completely ridiculous. (Continued…)
RMK
posted 4/30/08 @ 10:48 PM CST
double digit deficit compared to the median deficits of single digits? it is not surprising. First, SMU's athletic department except for the Forrest Gregg years since the firing of Fry after the 72 season, is a program whose only mission is to raise money for the athletic department and for the school as a whole and selling tickets second. (Continued…)
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