With Tennessee’s game postponed this weekend against Auburn due to COVID-19, the spotlight is directly shining on the Tennessee football coaching pay cuts. As a result of the coronavirus, Tennessee, like many other universities, has to make up for its lack of revenue in this strange moment in time. The University of Tennessee is trying to help the school’s budget, but some people are not thrilled with what has to be done. And what I mean by “some people,” I am honestly talking about a fraction of Tennessee football’s coaching staff.
Eight Tennessee football coaches declined said pay cuts. Now, are these coaches obligated to agree to make less money than what their contracts say? No. But almost every other coach in Tennessee’s athletic department decided to take the pay cut to help with the university’s financial loss.
You may be wondering how much revenue was lost at an SEC school that is still allowing football to be played with fans in the stadium. Well, to answer that question, the Tennessee athletic department expects to have a $40 million loss in revenue at the end of the year. The pay cuts would last from November 1 through June 30.
So who were the coaches that decided not to help the university by taking a pay cut? See the list below.
Jim Chaney
Jim Chaney was the offensive coordinator at Tennessee from 2009-2012. He was the interim head coach for the six games after former head coach Derek Dooley was fired in the 2012 season. Chaney returned in 2019 as an offensive coordinator when current head coach Jeremy Pruitt began as the head coach. Out of the eight coaches who denied pay cuts, Chaney is the highest paid. He makes $1.6 million a year.
Derrick Ansley
Derrick Ansley spent the 2012 football season with the Volunteers as the defensive backs coach. He then returned to Knoxville in 2019, when Pruitt hired him as the defensive coordinator. He makes $395,000 a year.
Will Friend
Will Friend is in his third year of coaching Tennessee’s offensive line. He makes $805,000 a year.
Chris Weinke
Chris Weinke is Tennessee’s quarterbacks coach. He began his Tennesee coaching career in 2018 as the running backs coach, but in 2019 he moved to coach the quarterbacks. Weinke makes $450,000 a year.
Brian Niedermeyer
Brian Niedermeyer is the inside linebackers coach for the Volunteers. He also earned the National Recruiter of the Year award in 2019. He makes $350,000 a year.
Shelton Felton
Shelton Felton is the outside linebackers coach for Tennessee. He makes $225,000 a year.
Joe Osovet
In 2018, he was Tennessee’s director of player development, then the next season, he was named the director of football programming, and he is currently the tight ends coach for the 2020 season. His salary is $250,000 a year.
A.J. Artis
Pruitt hired A.J. Artis as an assistant director of strength and conditioning in 2018, and now he is the director of strength and conditioning for the 2020 season. He makes $200,000 a year.