Syracuse University extends Babers’ contract using athletic department money, Wildhack says

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — A day after Syracuse University announced it has extended the contract of football head coach Dino Babers to keep him in his position “well into the future,” John Wildhack, director of athletics, faced reporters’ questions seeking details of the deal.

But Wildhack on Thursday morning offered no details of the contract’s terms including number of years, salary level, or where Babers’ new compensation level ranks him among his ACC peers.

One morsel of information that did emerge came when a reporter asked how Syracuse University is funding any salary increase that is presumably part of the pact. Wildhack replied, “This is all self-sustaining through athletics. That’s how we operate here.”

The athletic director also noted that all involved wanted to get the contract extension finished and announced before the early-signing period for football recruits, which begins Dec. 19,

Babers and his staff “have been out on the road all week,” Wildhack added in response to an inquiry from a BJNN reporter.

Wildhack opened the press conference thanking Babers and his family and said he looks forward to “building on the success” of the 2018 season.

“This is another step forward … in building a foundation that can have sustained success year after year after year. That’s what our goal is,” he said

Regarding the length of the newly extended Babers contract, Wildhack would only say, “It’s long term and it’s great.”

As he continued with that answer, Wildhack noted that part of the message for Syracuse’s 2019 recruits and those in “2020, 2021, etc., etc., [was] that if they come here to Syracuse University, they’re going to play for Coach Babers. They’re going to get a great education.”

The process

The effort to secure a contract extension started in early November. Wildhack said he told Babers that he wanted him in Syracuse “long term” and Babers “agreed with that,” so the athletic director started discussions with the head coach’s agent.

The two sides reached a verbal agreement last Saturday a few minutes before the start of the Syracuse men’s basketball game with Georgetown in the Carrier Dome.

Wildhack called the agreement a “commitment” from both parties. He started “doing the homework” back in late August, figuring that if Syracuse had a “breakthrough season,” he would want to move to retain Coach Babers.

“We studied the market extensively,” Wildhack told reporters.

Babers “grateful”

Babers reacted to the contract extension in a statement issued by his employer.

“A little over three years ago, I arrived at Syracuse University inspired by the great opportunity to coach at an institution with such a rich football legacy, hungry student-athletes, good facilities and a storied tradition of academic distinction,” said Babers. “It was a true honor to have accepted the head coach position then and I consider it a privilege today to be able to extend my time coaching at Syracuse University. I am grateful to have the support, faith and trust of University leaders, the Orange community, our student-athletes and our fans. I am excited about what the future holds for Syracuse Football and look forward to our continued improvement and growth.”

The Orange finished the 2018 regular season with a 9-3 record and were undefeated in 6 home games. They’re headed to the Camping World Bowl in Orlando, where Syracuse will face No. 15 West Virginia University on Dec. 28.

Babers is a finalist for the 2018 George Munger Collegiate Coach of the Year Award. In three years at the helm of Syracuse football, Babers has posted a 17-19 record.

 

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com