"At a time when college athletics is under intense scrutiny, Dick Baddour
has run one of the most successful and broad-based athletic programs in the
country, and he has done so with great integrity. This university is
fortunate to have him as athletic director," said Chancellor James Moeser.
Baddour said, "I appreciate the confidence Chancellor Moeser and the Board
of Trustees have shown by extending my contract. I have treasured my four
decades of service at the University. I respect Carolina and the office I
hold, and the opportunity to serve it for three more years is a privilege.
The athletic department is faced with a number of challenges, competitively
and philosophically, that we are determined to meet with the success and
class that Carolina fans have known for many years."
Baddour will receive an annual base salary of $203,083 and $30,000 expense
account. The contract also provides additional performance bonuses if the
athletic program achieves certain goals. Those provisions include
compensation equal to one month’s salary ($16,923) if the football team goes
to a bowl game; if men’s basketball goes to the NCAA tournament; if women’s
basketball goes to the NCAA tournament; and if the athletic program finishes
among the top 10 schools in the annual Directors Cup standings, a national
ranking of universities based on men’s and women’s NCAA postseason
competition.
"There are very few athletic programs in the nation with the breadth and
overall competitiveness of the Carolina athletic program," said Richard
"Stick" Williams, chair of the UNC Board of Trustees. "Almost all of the
teams compete for conference championships, and many compete for national
championships. The fact that such a program also is known for its integrity
gives me great pride. I am very supportive of this contract extension."
Baddour, a Goldsboro native and 1966 Carolina graduate, is in his 37th year
of service to his alma mater. Besides working in athletics, Baddour has
served UNC as assistant dean of men and in the admissions office and law
school. He joined the athletic department in 1986 and received a
Distinguished Service Medal from the General Alumni Association in 2001.
Carolina has finished in the Top 10 in the Directors Cup, sponsored by the
National Association of College Directors of Athletics, in four of the last
six years. The Tar Heels have been the highest finishing Atlantic Coast
Conference program in the Directors Cup and averaged a fifth-place finish
nationally in Baddour’s tenure as athletic director.
In that time, UNC has won 37 ACC team championships, more than any other
school. UNC has won more ACC championships than NC State, Maryland, Georgia
Tech and Wake Forest combined in the last six years.
In each of the last two seasons, 20 different varsity programs qualified to
compete in NCAA postseason action. Three sports field hockey, men’s soccer
and women’s soccer have won national championships since 1997. The men’s
basketball program has competed in two Final Fours and the football team has
twice qualified for postseason bowl games.
Baddour also negotiated long-term contracts with Carolina’s multi-media
partner, Learfield Communications Inc., and with Nike. The Nike agreement,
approved in 2001, was a record-setting eight-year contract extension that
provides benefits to both athletic and academic interests. The contract,
valued at $28.34 million, was among the largest contracts of its kind
between Nike and a college athletic department. It also was lauded
nationally for its socially conscious labor relations clauses.