Former Binghamton University men’s basketball coach Kevin Broadus will not be coaching any athletes for the 2010-11 academic year, according to Jim Norris, BU’s interim athletic director.
Broadus, who was suspended last October following misconduct by the basketball team, has instead been assigned the new title of the senior athletic administrator for academic assessment and achievement from April 2010 to April 2011, and will be paid a salary of $223,426, the same salary agreed to under his coaching contract. Broadus will be subject to another performance review in 2011.
‘Some of the duties will involve benchmarking student activities and identifying the best programs for achieving academic student athlete success,’ Norris said.
Broadus’ official performance review broadly states that he would assist the University in seeking programs for aiding student athletes to overcome academic challenges and how they compare with other universities.
His duties include identifying and reporting on the best university programs for athletes achieving academic success, developing an in-depth survey of measurable achievement criteria for each BU intercollegiate sport, recommending Student Athlete Success Center mentoring and tutoring programs and advocating other programs to encourage community service among athletes.
Broadus was placed on paid leave last October following the removal of six basketball players from the team.
An audit of BU’s athletics program, compiled for the SUNY Board of Trustees by a team of lawyers led by Judge Judith Kaye, included a scandal that overlooked alleged criminal activity and pushed for lowered academic standards.
Broadus discussed his relationship with the players on his website, www.kevinbroadus.com.
‘I have no regrets about trying to make any of the young men achieve their dreams even though some of them ultimately may have exhibited some flaws along the way,’ Broadus wrote on his website. ‘I hope that they view me as a role model ‘ demonstrating that you can have a successful sports career while furthering your education.’
While Kevin Broadus’ formal supervisor is Director Norris, there are no formal shifts or work area that he is required to report for.
‘Kevin’s performance program is a professional assignment and there is certain amount of flexibility in how, where and when the work is performed,’ Norris said. ‘We do have office space available for Kevin if necessary. We are more concerned that the assigned tasks within the performance program are completed as opposed to where, when and how they get done.’
Norris said that he did not know what would happen once Broadus’ employment contract expires in April 2014, but was at least certain that Broadus’ performance program through this April would not include coaching duties. Interim coach Mark Macon will instead be serving the second of his two-year extension as the men’s basketball coach for the 2010-11 academic year.
Norris explained that all BU employees receive both an employment contract and a performance program. A contract is given when an employee is hired, and a performance program is similar to a job description.
Normally, at the end of each 12-month cycle, employees have performance evaluations to measure how the employee achieved the goals and objectives set forth by the performance program, Norris said.
‘Initially, he coached basketball,’ Norris said. ‘This year’s performance program changed in April and did not include coaching duties.’
Asked whether there was a specific clause that could prevent the University from terminating Kevin Broadus’ contract, Norris stated that Broadus’ contract is subject to the conditions of the SUNY Board of Trustees and the United University Professionals’ (UUP) collective bargaining agreement. Broadus’ original coaching contract extends until April 2, 2014.
‘The performance program is what we expect from Kevin Broadus this year,’ Norris said. ‘Mark Macon will be coaching our basketball team, and we are looking forward to moving ahead in all regards.’
Neither Kevin Broadus nor his lawyer could be reached for comment for this report.