Kansas University Chancellor Robert Hemenway has begun piecing together a five-year teaching contract for KU Athletics Director Bob Frederick, whose resignation takes effect July 1.
It’s not yet known how much Frederick will be paid.
“We’re still working on the details,” Hemenway said.
As athletics director, Frederick’s annual salary is $163,303.
Frederick, 61, said he expects his move to the classroom to involve a cut in pay.
“I assume so, yes,” he said.
Frederick announced his resignation April 25, saying that after 14 years as athletic director, he wanted to return to teaching. Though he denied any connection, Frederick’s announcement came five months after the KU football team recorded its fifth-straight losing season and amid bitterness over the decision to balance the athletics department’s budget by dropping men’s swimming and tennis teams.
Frederick’s contract will rely on “various sources” of funds, including the KU Athletic Corp.’s budget and the university’s budgets, as well as private contributions, Hemenway said.
Plans call for Frederick, who earned a doctorate in 1984, to teach one graduate level course in the fall: Health, Sport and Exercise Science 801 “Facilities for Physical Education, Recreation and Intercollegiate Athletics.” He’s taught the course several times in the past.
The course is part of the department of health, sports and exercise curriculum within KU’s School of Education.
Interim Education Dean Jerry Bailey said Frederick might be asked teach a second course next semester.
“It’s fairly typical for faculty members in their first full semester of teaching to have a little bit of a reduced load,” Bailey said. “I suspect Dr. Frederick could teach an additional course without much trouble, but it would be a stretch to expect him to teach three classes at the level I’m sure he wants to teach them.”
Hemenway said he, too, has plans for Frederick’s time.
“I’d like to see Bob get involved in the Kansas Honors Program,” Hemenway said, referring to the KU Alumni Association’s program aimed at recognizing the state’s top high school students.
“I can’t think of a better person to talk to Kansans about the importance of encouraging academic excellence than Bob Frederick.”
Frederick’s being on the health, sports and exercise’s 11-member faculty will not interfere with the department’s efforts to replace five senior professors: Matthew Adeyanju, Wayne Osness, Bob Lockwood, Phil Huntsinger and Carole Zebas, all of whom are retiring at semester’s end.
“Dr. Frederick is coming at a perfect time for us,” Bailey said.
Hemenway said there’s nothing unusual in his negotiating a contract with Frederick.
“Most contracts are for one year; they’re common,” he said. “This one is for five years, which isn’t unusual at all.”
Hemenway said the contract is not a buyout of Frederick’s contract as athletics director.
“A buyout is when you give someone a lump-sum payment to leave a position. That’s not what this is, and that’s never been discussed between us,” he said.
“Bob indicated he wanted to resign, and I don’t want to lose him. That’s the basis of our discussion.”