Earlier today, Alan Haller was unanimously approved as Michigan State University's new athletic director to replace Bill Beekman. He will serve as MSU’s 20th Athletic Director for five years.
“That's why it is my passion, every single day, to help our current and future student-athletes have the same transformational experience that I did,” Haller said. "This is not a job, this is my responsibility to make sure our student-athletes succeed."
The contract begins Sept. 1, 2021, and will be in effect through Sept. 1, 2026, unless terminated earlier.
Haller’s contract includes an $800,000 base salary with a $100,000 supplemental compensation payment after each year of his contract.
The contract also includes amenities, such as vehicle allowances, travel and entertainment, tickets for MSU sporting events and a country club membership. In addition, it includes a plethora of performance-based bonuses.
Football
Playing in a non-New Year’s Six (NY6) Bowl game - $10,000
Participating in the Big Ten conference championship game - $25,000
Winning the Big Ten conference championship game- $35,000
Playing in an NY6 Bowl game - $40,000
Winning the College Football Playoff - $75,000
Men’s Basketball
Playing in the NCAA Tournament Final Four - $35,000
Playing in the NCAA Tournament championship game - $45,000
Winning the NCAA Tournament championship - $60,000
Women’s Basketball
Playing in the NCAA Tournament Final Four - $25,000
Playing in the NCAA Tournament championship game - $35,000
Winning the NCAA Tournament championship - $50,000
Men’s Ice Hockey
Playing in the NCAA Tournament Frozen Four - $25,000
Playing in the NCAA Tournament championship game - $35,000
Winning the NCAA Tournament championship - $50,000
Non-revenue sports (Volleyball, Tennis, Softball, Baseball, etc.)
Winning an NCAA Tournament championship - $25,000
Other bonuses are dependent on increasing the department’s graduation success rate, meeting fundraising goals, establishing goals pertaining to student-athletes’ health and safety and being named the Athletic Director of the Year by NACDA or Sports Business Journal.
Former Athletic Director Bill Beekman’s contract included a $750,000 base salary with a maximum of $100,000 in performance bonuses. These performance bonuses included the overall performance of his role as AD, academic success and student-athletes’ GPAs. Another bonus was dependent on his compliance with NCAA, Big Ten and the MSU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics' operations rules.
Beekman’s contract included a maximum of $100,000 in performance bonuses; Haller’s contract does not limit the amount of money he can earn from bonuses.
However, the bonuses do not stack. For example, if Michigan State Football made the Big Ten title game and won, Haller would earn a bonus on only the team winning the title game, not both. Haller's bonus is based on the highest level of achievement.
Having resigned from his position as athletic director, Beekman now serves as Vice President for Strategic Initiatives. He assists with strategic planning implementation at MSU.
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With Haller receiving a significant pay raise from Beekman's contract, it seems clear there is a strong belief within Michigan State University that Haller can do his job at a high level.
“Alan has been a leader in developing athlete administrators and broadening the depth and breadth of our diverse talent within MSU Athletics,” Michigan State University President Samuel L. Stanley said in a release. “His professional accomplishments, integrity and leadership make him the best choice to move our programs forward during a constantly evolving college athletics landscape. And his understanding and perspective as a former student-athlete will benefit Spartan athletes for generations.”
