EDITOR’S NOTE: Given the recent contract extension signed by Montana head football coach Bobby Hauck, Skyline Sports will have a series of stories on the contracts of the head football coaches and the athletic directors at the University of Montana and Montana State University.
The contracts for Montana State were provided by MSU compliance and the President’s office. The Montana contracts were provided by the UM Office of Legal Counsel.
MISSOULA, Montana — Leading up to the banner fall sports season to finish 2023 for University of Montana athletics, Kent Haslam signed a three-year contract extension to remain UM’s athletic director.
On September 1 of 2023, Haslam inked a contract through June of 2026, preceding an excellent first semester of accomplishments by UM athletics.
Last fall, the Griz won the Big Sky Conference football title for the first time since 2009. That was part of a run that saw Montana win 10 games in a row and 13 overall to earn a berth in the FCS title game for the first time in 14 years. UM also set a single-season record for season tickets sold (more than 18,500) and earned the right to host nine home games, most of them sellouts of Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
Montana also captured the Big Sky Conference title in soccer last fall. UM won 12 games on the pitch and forged a nine-match unbeaten streak to earn the ninth league crown in program history. UM hosted Ohio State and beat Oklahoma in the non-conference on the way to tying the school record for wins in a single season.
The track and field programs improved their finishes at the league meets under the guidance of second-year head coach Doug Fraley. The Griz volleyball team has seen consecutive competitive seasons for the first time in a long time and Allison Lawrence because the second UM coach to win Big Sky Coach of the Year honors when she earned the award in 2022, marking the first time Griz volleyball had claimed that award since 1991.
Haslam is one of the longest-tenured people in college athletics in the state of Montana. He has helped UM navigate tumultuous times that included NCAA sanctions and multiple university presidents to again sit as one of the premier athletic departments in the league. According to his bio on the UM athletics website, “he secured the largest private gift in department history, one that led to the construction of the department-changing Washington-Grizzly Champions Center.”
Haslam, who was promoted to athletic director in 2012, has a specific clause because of his tenure that states:
“This Agreement expires automatically at the end of the term. Neither party should have any expectation of renewal. However, UM will notify AD a minimum of five months prior to expiration of this contract if non-renewal is intended. If UM notifies AD less than five months prior to expiration of this contract, the contract will continue five months from time of notification and expire at that time.”
The contract can also be extended on or after March 1 each year based on mutual agreement. Each June 30 that Haslam remains as UM’s athletic director, he will receive a $10,000 retention bonus.
The contract states that Haslam began receiving an annual base salary of $240,000. Each year, “UM reserves the right, exercisable in its discretion, to increase the AD’s Director of Athletics Employment Agreement Annual Base Salary based upon the guidelines issued annually by the University for salary adjustments of all UM contract professional employees.”
Haslam also receives bonuses for the following:
– A $500 monthly stipend for an automobile
– If UM achieves any one of the three criteria below for full amount, no additional compensation for meeting more than one – $10,000
o a. At least two teams selected for post-season competition, or
o b. Top 50% (Top 5) in Big Sky Conference All-Sports Trophy (Montana finished 4th in men’s all-sports in 2021-2022, and fifth in 2022-23. UM women finished 10th both years).
o c. Top 50% (175) nationally in Learfield Directors Cup standings – $10,000
If Haslam achieves all those metrics and upholds the part of the contract that includes the Montana Board of Regents policy & procedure manual; operates the programs fiscally, upholds academic & athletic standards of the department, the UM athletic director can make close to $300,000 including the automobile stipend in the final year of the contract in 2025-2026.
