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Colleges

USF offers Leavitt deal with 70 percent raise

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Published February 1, 2008

Jim Leavitt, the only football coach USF has had, would average $1.8-million and have an increased buyout if he accepts a new contract through the 2014 season.
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[Atoyia Deans | Times]
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TAMPA - Athletic director Doug Woolard is taking a major step to help ensure that Jim Leavitt stays the only football coach in USF history, offering a new contract that would pay him at least $12.6-million over the next seven years, a 70 percent pay raise over the next five seasons.

Leavitt, 51, agreed to a seven-year, $7-million deal in November 2005, but after two successful seasons, his new deal would average $1.8-million and extend his contract through the 2014 season. In total compensation, it would pay Leavitt $1.5-million in 2008, nearly triple the $537,680 he made in 2005, two contracts ago.

A copy of the contract was obtained Thursday through public records requests; Leavitt and Woolard could not be reached for comment Thursday night.

Leavitt, who has coached the Bulls since before their first game in 1997, will also be better equipped to keep his assistants, as the pool for their salaries over the next five seasons would increase by $200,000 a year from his current contract. Leavitt lost four assistants after the 2006 season, but he has yet to lose one this year, despite unprecedented success on the field.

The contract would also increase the buyout required for another school to pry Leavitt from the Bulls. It was $400,000 through the end of 2011 under his old deal. It now stands at $1-million for 2008, dropping by $100,000 each year until it stops at $500,000 in 2013.

USF had the highest increase in attendance in the nation in the fall, with the average at Raymond James Stadium up more than 22,000. The Bulls opened 6-0, were ranked as high as No. 2 in the BCS standings, but finished 9-4 and unranked in the Associated Press and coaches polls after a 56-21 loss to Oregon in the Sun Bowl.

[Last modified February 1, 2008, 01:06:55]


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Comments on this article
by To ht 02/03/08 06:16 PM
How about donating those millions to EDUCATION? Shut up, "it all comes from donations" group, you're proving everyone else's point. Priorities need adjustment!
by Todd 02/03/08 07:46 AM
Find out how much the univ. made off of the West Virginia game this year. Then realize that you don't make that kind of money unless you have a good team, & you don't have a good team w/o a good coach. Big time football brings in more than it costs.
by Melinda 02/02/08 01:44 PM
I'm not sure how much 'goo' this coach brings to USF but maybe the fact that boosters are willing to support athletics over education says something about human nature.
by Kristi 02/01/08 09:49 PM
god bless leavitt. all the haters suck
by alan 02/01/08 08:42 PM
football is king get over it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by kelly 02/01/08 06:42 PM
Students got a govt approved increase in tution of 5% this semester to pay...i guess we were all pitching in to pay for the raise of the deans and coaches of the schools
by James 02/01/08 03:51 PM
Oh and Steve read the article the Assistants get a raise also
by Barbara 02/01/08 03:42 PM
For all of you who think the money from athletics goes to USF, think again. It goes to the athletic assocation - a separate entity. They don't have to play by the same rules as the university and they don't have to share their money.
by Barbara 02/01/08 03:21 PM
I hope he can teach a class, b/c with all the layoffs that are coming, he's going to have to!
by jim 02/01/08 03:19 PM
He is not worth it, nor is football at USF! The money is better used elsewhere. He should be ashamed!
by Kim 02/01/08 02:26 PM
I'm glad to hear that the "brain drain" and lack of money for professors is not a problem at USF. I guess the legislature knew what they were doing when they cut college funds.
by Professor 02/01/08 02:10 PM
Let's see, no travel grants for faculty, not enough desks for the students (literally), hiring freezes, research monies reduced...consider my morale boosted. Go Bulls. Rah rah rah.
by Josh 02/01/08 01:21 PM
Maybe when the rest of the school brings in as much money as the football team does everyone else will get paid. Until that happens quit complaining and be happy that people outside of Tampa have heard of USF.
by Don 02/01/08 12:45 PM
Apparently the reading public has never heard of boosters and college athletics....geez!
by Mark 02/01/08 12:11 PM
I'm sure glad USF is using its limited resources to attract the best scholars and students.
by Tony 02/01/08 12:07 PM
Coming from a major university myself I can tell you USF had this in the works for a long time and was allocating money for it. Tuition doesn't necessarily pay for coaches salaries. That's what rich booster are for.
by Elle 02/01/08 11:56 AM
I love our football team, but c'mon, I've got to graduate here and I've got classes being cut and teachers not being replaced. Is it too much to ask to get our priorities straight? Apparently...
by To All Who Have No Idea What They're Talking About 02/01/08 11:52 AM
It's called private donations and revenue generated directly from Leavitt's goo results. You show me the faculty member that brings in 65k to a class or private donors are willing to cast $100k to compensate, and I'll agree with you. If not, shhhh.
by Len 02/01/08 11:45 AM
Coaches' salaries are getting out of control.
by Jake 02/01/08 11:26 AM
Athletics pulls in money from TV and endorsements and then that money is trickled back through Athletics and Education. Before you speak about something; you should know what you are talking about.
by Keith 02/01/08 11:16 AM
Most coaches are paid by boosters, not taxpayers. All you that voted to reduce taxes are more liable for education shortfalls than any sports program.
by Steve 02/01/08 11:07 AM
What about the dining facilities or the assistants salaries?
by Dave 02/01/08 11:05 AM
I'd long heard USF was sinking under the weight of inept management. This proves it. Coming less than a week after the president's announcement that there would be faculty cuts, this is appalling. What's next? A similar raise for USF's president?
by Bland 02/01/08 11:04 AM
Jim Leavitt and the rest of the Bulls' coaching staff are the best thing that ever happen to USF. They have done a great job. As a Gator, I have nothing but respect for the Bulls and how they have surged ahead. Good luck and keep this coach.
by Billy 02/01/08 10:57 AM
The majority of the money comes from boosters, not the school. The cutbacks are part of the genius of Amendment 1 that people just voted yes for, disguised as a homestead tax cut. Hope that $240 is worth the countless jobs lost by state employees.
by Matt 02/01/08 10:53 AM
Wait for the facts before griping - the funds for stuff like this typically come in from alumni and boosters who make donations earmarked for certain areas. Don't know if that's the case here or not, which is why I'm not passing judgement...yet.
by disgusted 02/01/08 10:41 AM
Enrollment freezes, classes being cancelled, summer semester in jeopardy, layoffs... But HECK WE GOTZ FOOOTBAWL!!!
by Liz 02/01/08 09:50 AM
Our kids college costs keeps going up. So where are the colleges coming up with all this money for sport coaches and for the teachers? Really makes me wonder about the level of the education now. Is it all sports?
by USF Mad 02/01/08 09:43 AM
Well I am happy that USF can find 12.6 million to pay Coach Leavitt while they are creating chaos on campus telling everyone about budget cuts and layoffs to come. Thank you to an administration of a sinking ship.
by Don 02/01/08 09:43 AM
Leavitt deserves a raise. But he needs to improve on offense.
by Leo 02/01/08 09:19 AM
It is a lot of money, but remember, the program brings in even more money to USF. B4 2007, people thought I went to school in Miami. Now everyone knows that USF is in TAMPA! Thanks, Bulls!
by Tim 02/01/08 09:04 AM
Please sign the contract,Coach.. Then we can start an office pool betting on the year you spontaneously burst into flames on the sidelines !!Seriously, congratulations on the job you do !!!
by Amanda 02/01/08 08:17 AM
I don't want to hear USF crying anymore that they have no money for education!!
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