Michael Bonner

The Clarion-Ledger

STARKVILLE - Florida has extended an offer to Mississippi State's Scott Stricklin to become the school's next athletic director, multiple sources have told The Clarion-Ledger.

Sources said Stricklin turned down the offer earlier this month but Florida returned with a better offer within the last few days. The deal, a source said, was for at least $1 million a year but could be upwards of $1.4 million. Stricklin makes about $500,000 at Mississippi State.

Football Scoop reported on Tuesday that Stricklin was Florida's top candidate.

Stricklin didn't return a message asking for comment on the story.

Mississippi State president Mark Keenum issued this statement, "Scott Stricklin has earned national recognition as one of the nation's best and most innovative athletic directors. Therefore, it's not at all surprising that his name would be associated with searches to fill vacancies in elite universities. Beyond that, any addition comment at this time would be premature."

Stricklin, a Jackson native and Mississippi State graduate, would replace Jeremy Foley, who is retiring. His last day is Oct. 1. Stricklin became MSU's athletic director in 2010.

It won't be easy to pry Stricklin from the location where he began his career. His wife, Anne, is the daughter of former Bulldog and basketball Hall of Famer Bailey Howell. Florida has the means, though, and is using them in its second offer to Stricklin. The Gators boast on athletic budget that was more than $147 million in 2014-15, according to USA Today. That's sixth nationally. Mississippi State is No. 75, at $75.4 million.

Stricklin received the 2015-16 Under Armour Athletics Director of the Year Award by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA). The honor came as MSU has updated facilities across the board including the $11.7 million Mize Pavilion at Humphrey Coliseum, the $25 million Leo W. Seal Jr. Football Complex and a $75 million expansion and renovation of Davis Wade Stadium. The softball and tennis teams opened a $6 million renovation and expansion earlier this year. The school also debuted a $2.2 million Mississippi State Golf Center at Old Waverly last spring.

Stricklin also has plans for a $40 million upgrade to baseball’s Dudy Noble Field. Construction began earlier this month.

On the field, MSU football has been to a school-record six straight bowl games, averaging more than eight wins per season since 2010. The Bulldogs just completed their best two-year (2014-15) stretch in program history (19-7). The highlight came when MSU spent five straight weeks atop the polls in 2014.

In the 2015-16 season, MSU women’s basketball team advanced to its second Sweet 16 in program history. The men's basketball program brought in a top 10 recruiting class under Ben Howland. Stricklin hired women's coach Vic Schaefer and Howland.

The success has led to an increase in attendance. Football season ticket sales eclipsed 50,000 for the first time last year. The program set new highs for average attendance (61,784) and total attendance (432,490) for the fourth straight year in 2015.

A record 80,705 fans attended women’s basketball in Humphrey Coliseum this season

Stricklin began at MSU in media relations in 1990. After stops at Auburn, Tulane, Baylor and Kentucky, Stricklin returned to Starkville as the Senior Associate AD of External affairs in 2008. He became athletic director in 2010.

Check back for more details as the story develops.