University of Minnesota athletics director Norwood Teague answered questions from the media for about 33 minutes on Thursday.
Despite the Gophers men’s basketball team upsetting No. 1 Indiana on Tuesday, Teague received plenty of negative emails about head coach Tubby Smith. Teague noted that positive emails are out there, but fans are more likely to “write when they’re frustrated” than when they’re content.
Head football coach Jerry Kill makes $1.2 million per year. Teague says it’s not enough because Kill is the lowest paid coach in the Big Ten by “several hundred thousand dollars.”
It was also learned earlier this week that women’s basketball coach Pam Borton was given a two-year contract extension two weeks before former AD Joel Maturi stepped down from his position.
The athletic department’s strategic facilities plan should be finalized by mid-April, according to Teague. Then the department will begin raising funds across the state. Teague says the total cost will likely be $80 million to $125 million. He added that a new basketball practice facility is necessary.
Don’t expect many changes to Williams Arena in the near future. Teague called the 85-year-old building a “classic,” although he agreed that it needs some new amenities.
