Pay Cut for UCLA Coaches and AD?

California is mandating salary cuts for state employees, but certain people were exempt from such drops in pay because they have multi-year contracts. UCLA’s athletic director Dan Guerrero, football coach Rich Neuheisel, and basketball coach Ben Howland were all those not affected by the cuts – but all three are volunteering to accept lower salaries to help out the state.

Rick Neuheisel, Image: Newscom

The exact amount their paychecks will drop is still being negotiated, but the men will forfeit up to 10% of their salaries for the year. Neuheisel makes $1.25, plus up to $500,000 in bonuses annually, while Howland’s salary plus incentives for last year was $2.17 million. UCLA’s AD salary is $465,000. The school may approach other staff members to ask for voluntary pay cuts as well.

Would you take a pay cut, even though you didn’t have to, if you knew it would help your school and your state’s overall budget? To you think other schools should consider this approach as well?