Blue White Illustrated

Athletic director Sandy Barbour has received a contract extension that will keep her at Penn State through the 2022- 23 academic year. The extension, under which Barbour will assume the title of vice president for Intercollegiate Athlet- ics, was approved in February by the board of trustees' compensation com- mittee. Barbour has been the leader of Penn State's 31-sport athletic program, serv- ing approximately 800 students, since August 2014. Her contract extension is retroactive to July 1, 2018, replacing the final year of her previous contract, and extends through Aug. 31, 2023. "Sandy has consistently promoted excellence in intercollegiate athletics – in academics and athletic competi- tions, and she is widely hailed among the best athletic directors in the na- tion," Penn State president Eric Barron said. "She is a powerful advocate for those who wear the blue and white, and her leadership has helped advance our shared vision of what intercollegiate athletics can be. I'm proud of our stu- dent-athletics, the coaches and staff, and I'm very pleased that Sandy will be able to lead them to even greater suc- cess." Under the terms of the new contract, Barbour will receive $1.17 million during the 2018-19 contract year, which ends Aug. 31. Her annual $100,000 retention bonus has been eliminated, but her compensation will rise by $50,000 each year, culminating in a base salary of $1.37 million in the final year of the con- tract. In addition, she will be eligible for annual performance bonuses, with a maximum bonus of $260,000 in any given year. "I am very appreciative of President Barron's and the board of trustees' con- fidence in my leadership and their steadfast belief in intercollegiate athlet- ics as a powerful and positive influence on our institution and community," Bar- bour said. "It has been a privilege and an honor to lead this program the last four- plus years, and I look forward to the great work that lies ahead on behalf of student-athlete development and suc- cess." Barbour, who has more than 35 years of experience as a collegiate administrator and coach, directs a Nittany Lion ath- letic department that supports approxi- mately 800 students in 31 sports (16 men's, 15 women's) and employs a staff of approximately 300. Penn State's 31 programs are tied for the fourth-highest total among all 130 schools in the Foot- ball Bowl Subdivision. During Barbour's initial four and a half A D M I N I S T R A T I O N Penn State extends Barbour's contract through 2023 NEW DEAL Bar- bour's contract ex- tension was approved by the board of trustees' compensation com- mittee in February. University president Eric Barron called her "a powerful ad- vocate for those who wear the blue and white." Photo courtesy of Penn State Athletics

• Cover