Kansas University women’s basketball coach Marian Washington has a new three-year contract worth at least $210,000 annually, the Journal-World has learned.
Washington, who has coached the Jayhawks for 28 years, earns the same base pay as men’s basketball coach Roy Williams and football coach Terry Allen.
That base pay is currently $125,612, but it will go up when the legislature passes its stalled budget package. The KU athletics department customarily grants raises based on the same percentage accorded university faculty and staff.
Washington had been working under the terms of a four-year pact that expires this year.
“I chose three more years at this point,” Washington said. “I just feel like as long as I’m doing a good job I should feel comfortable to extend that.”
Under terms of the new contract, she will receive about $85,000 in perks.
In essence, Washington gets the same compensation as Allen and Williams in several areas. For example, all three receive two automobiles, country club membership, reasonable travel and entertainment expenses and payments on an annual premium for a $2 million life insurance policy.
Where the three pacts differ widely is in radio and television income.
Williams is guaranteed $280,000 annually from radio and TV while Allen’s radio-TV minimum is $150,000. Washington’s package is considerably less. It contains a $35,000 minimum.
However, that’s $35,000 more than she has ever received in media money before. In other words, it’s a substantial hike.
“If you want to look at it that way,” she said. “But think about how many years I worked on a radio show and was not compensated for it. I appreciate it. I really appreciate being compensated for radio.”
Another new perk is a $10,500 travel allowance for personal guests.
“If I traveled with a member of the family in the past, I’d pay for it,” Washington said. “This provides me with a stipend to offset that. Now my mother can fly with me and my daughter can fly with me.”
Washington’s new contract will expire after the 2003-2004 season.
Here are Washington’s other perks:
l Two automobiles or $7,500 in lieu of one or both autos.
l Membership in two country clubs or $2,500 in lieu of Lawrence Country Club membership. (Note: Alvamar CC does not charge dues).
l Permission to operate a summer camp. Payment of $25,000 for expenses associated with the camps.
l Payment of annual premium on a $2 million term life insurance policy or $5,000 in lieu of policy.
l Regular health insurance, retirement and other fringe benefits available to KUAC employees.
l Fifty tickets to each home women’s basketball game, plus two tickets to all home football and men’s basketball games.
Washington also has a contract with sporting goods manufacturer Nike Inc. that is undisclosed. Williams also has a Nike pact, also undisclosed. Meanwhile, Allen receives $30,000 annually from the KUAC deal with Nike.
Washington was awarded the new pact while coming off one of her worst won-loss seasons on Mount Oread. The Jayhawks were 12-17 overall and 5-11 in the Big 12 Conference in 2000-01.
It was Washington’s first sub-.500 season since 1988-89. She has had only six losing seasons since taking over the KU program in 1973-74. She has had 17 seasons with at least 20 victories.
