Salaries decrease slightly for Iowa men's basketball

IOWA CITY -- The University of Iowa will spend less on men's basketball coaches this year than it did in Todd Lickliter's first season in 2007-08.

New Coach Fran McCaffery and his three assistants are slated to make $1.495 million this year, down $60,000 from what Lickliter and his three assistants made during the 2008 fiscal year. A memo of understanding between McCaffery and Iowa Athletics Director Gary Barta gives the new coach $1.1 million in guarantees for the upcoming basketball season. A formal contract has yet to be signed, but McCaffery agreed to a six-year deal with Iowa.

Lickliter made $1.2 million annually, beginning with his first season. The figures were supplied to The Gazette by Iowa officials via the Freedom of Information Act.

Salaries for Iowa's top two assistants did not change. McCaffery's top assistant, Kirk Speraw, will make $140,000, as did Lickliter's top assistant, Chad Walthall. Second assistant Sherman Dillard will make $130,000, as did LaVall Jordan under Lickliter. McCaffery assistant Andrew Francis, who joined McCaffery from Siena, will make $125,000, up from Joel Cornette's$85,000 salary in 2008. Cornette served as Butler's director of operations before coming to Iowa.

Lickliter was fired March 15 after a 10-22 season, and Iowa owes the former coach $2.4 million in severance. Iowa hired McCaffery on March 27.

Walthall since was named head coach at Division II Minnesota State-Moorhead, while Michigan hired Jordan as an assistant within the last month.

Administrative assistant/video coordinator Ryan Bowen will make $32,000.