A few days after University of Arkansas athletics director Jeff Long was reportedly being considered for the same position at the University of Texas, the UA increased his salary in exchange for Long removing himself from Texas’ consideration.
In a Nov. 1 letter from Chancellor G. David Gearhart to Long, Gearhart notifies the athletics director that his salary will immediately be increased by $100,000 if he removes himself from consideration as Texas’ athletics director. Following reports that Long was in the top three candidates for the University of Texas job, he Tweeted to followers last weekend that he would stay in his current position with Arkansas.
The letter also states that Long’s salary will be increased by another $100,000 in 2014. He is also set to receive a one-time payment of $100,000 this month, according to the letter.
After mentioning how appreciative administrators are of Long, Gearhart writes, “President Donald Bobbitt and I are also aware that another institution of higher education with significant resources has expressed its desire to retain your services for its athletic department at a higher compensation level than you are currently receiving at the university.”
The letter goes on, “In exchange for your agreement to remove yourself from consideration for another position and to retain you at the University of Arkansas, your compensation package will be adjusted as follows,” before detailing Long’s salary increases.
UA student Alex Shell said, "I think that he deserves the raise. The athletic program is starting new and it has promise for years to come."
UA student Katie McPople said, "I think that the pay increase might have not needed to be so extreme."
Long is on contract through Fiscal Year 2018.