Arkansas State is getting a bargain for one of its new assistant football coaches - for six months, at least.
Trooper Taylor, hired by ASU in mid-January, is receiving $6,000 for insurance premiums from ASU until his new contract kicks in on July 1, but he is still receiving compensation for the final six months of a contract he signed with Auburn in 2011, according to salary figures released by the school.
Taylor, who was out of coaching last season after spending four seasons at Auburn, is under an Auburn contract until June 30, for which he’ll be paid $212,500. ASU Athletic Director Terry Mohajir said starting July 1, the new cornerbacks coach will be paid $105,000 by ASUuntil June 30, 2015.
Considering he made $425,000 annually while earning a reputation as one of college football’s best recruiters at Auburn, it counts as a bargain for ASU.
“He wanted to work with Blake and we’re excited about it,” Mohajir said of Taylor, who played with new ASU Coach Blake Anderson at Baylor in the late 1980s.
The nine assistants hired by Anderson will make $911,000 in combined pay from the school and private funds provided by the Red Wolf Foundation, according to the figures released Thursday.
Last year’s staff under then-Coach Bryan Harsin was paid $1.03 million, according to a USA Today database of assistant coaching salaries. But Mohajir said that figure isn’t exactly accurate, considering it takes into account salaries for all football staff, not just on-field coaches and that this year’s staff is being paid more than last year’s.
Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Walt Bell will make $205,000 in combined pay from the school and private funds, while co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Glen Elarbee will make $200,000 and defensive coordinator Joe Cauthen will earn $145,000.
Sports, Pages 27 on 02/21/2014