Athletics Sources: Texas AD Chris Del Conte to receive $200,000 annual pay raise Del Conte created Bevo Boulevard, froze ticket prices a fourth straight year as athletics generates record revenues Posted February 22nd, 2019


Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte will receive a $200,000 pay raise for his performance over the past year for energizing his department, two sources told the American-Statesman.

Del Conte’s contractual status and pay bump is part of the UT System Board of Regents agenda that will be unveiled Friday, the sources said. The regents meet next week.

UT regents must approve any changes to multi-year contracts or those worth more than $1 million annually.


Del Conte joined the Longhorns in December 2017 but has been on a whirlwind tear ever since. He originally signed a seven-year contract that stretched through the 2023-24 athletic year. The first year included a prorated amount.

Del Conte’s annually salary started at $1,310,000 annually and escalates each year, topping out at $1,570,000 in the final year, according to the terms of his original deal. Now, his base pay for the current athletic year would be $1,540,000 and ultimately reach $1.7 million. The length of the deal was not extended.

All salaries within the UT athletic department come solely from athletic funds. No state-appropriated funds are used. Texas athletics generated a record $219.4 million during the 2017-18 academic year and finished with a $2 million profit, according to audited figures.

Since Del Conte’s arrival, he’s spearheaded facility projects like the south end zone expansion of Royal-Memorial Stadium and a new basketball arena. The school created a new game-day experience called Bevo Boulevard and introduced pre-game concerts.

Del Conte also hired a new softball and track coach that were considered major hires within their sports.

Del Conte staged a public town hall forum earlier this month where he announced football season ticket prices would remain frozen for the fourth straight year.

“What I love about the University of Texas is the passion. There is no apathy here,” Del Conte said after the town hall. “This is a passionate fan base. There’s passionate people. There’s passionate people who write about the University of Texas. But we’re all in this program together.

“What I tell everyone, every time you criticize, you better be in the theater to help, too,” he added. “It’s easy to take a shot on the sideline with not even having the ability to help.”

Contact Brian Davis at 512-445-3957. Email bdavis@statesman.com.