Snyder’s public salary records unobstructed

Marshall University fans cannot only keep up with their football players' stats but also the salary and compensation of head football coach Mark Snyder.

The Parthenon performed a public record audit on the Athletics Administration for Snyder's contract and received it without issue.

When asked for the contract, Associate Director of Athletics and Chief of Staff Jeff O'Malley said, "OK, no problem," and proceeded to print it out right away.

"At public institutions, we have not heard of journalists having major problems with this specific question," said Frank Daniel LoMonte, executive director of the Student Press Law Center. "Most schools seem to be pretty accepting that the salaries of highly paid officials are the public's business."

The contract presented to The Parthenon includes everything about the money Snyder receives.

"It has all the incentives," O'Malley said.

According to the contract, Snyder's annual salary is $149,968 but goes up from there with supplements and added benefits. When he signed to take the job in 2006, Snyder received a $25,000 bonus from the Thunder Club, which is an organization that financially supports Marshall's Department of Athletics.

For each additional 1,000 season tickets sold over the 12,000 mark, Snyder gets an automatic $5,000.

He also receives more money based upon average home game attendance for each football season. The dollar amount goes up as the number of seats filled increases. For 26,000 attendees, Snyder gets $20,000. If attendance continues up another 1,000, then $20,000 is added to result in $40,000. It continues in this way until attendees reach 36,000, and $30,000 is added to $140,000.

Snyder is paid $10,000 for each division championship, 20,000 for a C-USA championship, $15,000 for bowl participation and $50,000 for a Bowl Championship Series game.

For every year after the first, Snyder gets to pick one non-conference away game, which does not include a championship, bowl or playoff game, to receive 20 percent of its net proceeds after travel and game expenses. This compensation shall not exceed $50,000.

$25,000 is paid to Snyder every year for fundraising appearances, which includes an agreement with the Marshall University Foundation.

Besides coaching the team, Snyder is required to make public presentations to acquire community and alumni support and for public relations. He also needs to participate in a number of university activities requested by Athletic Director Michael Hamrick and President Stephen Kopp.

As for his assistant coaches, Snyder is in charge of informing them about the importance of student athletes' academic standing and making sure the coaches supervise all athletes in this area.

Snyder has agreed to these requirements and more in the contract, which will guarantee him a job until June 30, 2013. If in the case he chooses to resign before this date and accepts a coaching position at another school, within 30 days of obtaining the new job, he is obligated to pay Marshall the lump sum of $700,000. This amount will free him from the contract and cover any damages Marshall may get from him leaving.

If university administration decides to end Snyder's coaching job early for reasons not outlined in the contract, the school is required to pay him his annual salary for the remaining years of the contract.

Emily Ayres can be contacted at ayres@marshall.edu.