Texas faculty question $5 million deal for football coach Brown amid tough economy

Some Texas faculty upset with Brown’s $5M salary

AUSTIN, Texas — Some University of Texas faculty question whether football coach Mack Brown is worth $5 million annually when the school faces tough budget choices.

University system regents last week decided Brown deserved more money, raising his annual pay from $3 million. The Longhorns will face fellow unbeaten Alabama for the BCS championship on Jan. 7.

A resolution approved Monday, in an informal vote during a UT Faculty Council meeting, said the $5 million deal was “unseemly and inappropriate.” The group lacked a quorum for an official vote.

UT President William Powers Jr. says the athletic program, under Brown, has had no subsidies or deficits and has channeled $6.6 million into academic programs in recent years.

Brown’s salary is paid with money raised by athletic department revenues.