Top NCAA management to take 20% pay cut amid lost revenue from coronavirus cancellations

Steve Berkowitz | USA TODAY

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NCAA President Mark Emmert and members of the association’s senior management will be cutting their pay by 20% and the association’s vice presidents will be cutting their pay by 10% due to financial pressure the NCAA is facing from the coronavirus pandemic, according to a memo obtained Tuesday by USA TODAY Sports.

According to the association’s most recent federal tax records, which cover the 2017 calendar year, Emmert made just over $2.1 million in base salary. Donald Remy, then executive vice president and now chief operating officer, had the next-highest base salary at just under $1.1 million.

Last Thursday, the NCAA announced it will reduce its direct distribution to Division I conferences and schools for 2020 to $225 million from a planned $600 million. The reduction resulted from the cancellation of the Division I men’s basketball tournament, which generates nearly all the association’s roughly $1.1 billion in normal annual revenue.

Tuesday's memo, which went out to the association's membership and was signed by Emmert, read:

"The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted college sports and the world in very profound ways — medically, emotionally and economically.

"As you know, last week the NCAA Board of Governors announced a significant reduction in the amount of money distributed to member schools and conferences. Many of you are facing significant financial challenges and difficult choices. Likewise, the national office is looking at every function to garner savings that could be used to support student-athletes in this uncertain economic time.

"To that end, as a first step I have decided to reduce my salary and that of our nine other highest compensated leaders by 20% and the rest of my President’s Cabinet by 10%. This temporary reduction will free up needed resources and highlights our commitment to weather the current economic challenges we face while continuing to provide opportunities to college athletes."