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SALT LAKE CITY — After one of the most successful seasons in program history, which saw the University of Utah athletic department finish its highest ever in the Learfield Director's Cup rankings, the university has extended the contract of its athletic director.
On Thursday, Utah announced a contract extension that will keep Mark Harlan with the university through June 30, 2028. The contract, which was obtained by KSL.com, adds a "rolling horizon" extension that renews the contract for a five-year period every July 1.
"Mark is one of the top athletic directors in the country," university President Taylor Randall said in a statement. "He is the right person at the right time to continue leading our athletic programs as we navigate the changing landscape of collegiate athletics. I look forward to continued partnership with him and his impressive leadership team in the years ahead."
Harlan was recently named the 2023 Athletics Director of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and has seen most of the programs in his department rise in competitiveness over his tenure that began in 2018, which includes 24 conference championships and four NCAA championships over the last five years.
Harlan is set to make $850,000 for the next academic season, with a $50,000 increase each year of the contract through 2028 until it reaches $1.1 million the last season and thereafter. He will also receive a retention bonus on June 30 of each year that starts at $100,000 in 2023 and increases by $50,000 each year he remains with the university.
The athletic director can also earn up to $200,000 per year for various performance metrics from his department, such as the football program winning 10 games in a season ($10,000), a Pac-12 football championships ($20,000), a 20-win season in men's basketball ($10,000), or an NCAA Graduation Success Rate of 90% ($20,000), among others.
"I'm grateful for the show of support from President Randall, and I look forward to the continued success of our student-athletes in the classroom, competition and community," Harlan said in a statement. "I'm incredibly proud of the achievements our programs have earned in recent years, and the culture of excellence that has been established. I'm also grateful for the hard work of everybody in our Utah Athletics family, and the incredible support from our fans and donors. Our student-athletes, coaches and staff are elite, and it is a privilege to continue to lead this department."
