Cheryl Evans/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

Arizona State athletic director likely to get extension and raise

Originally posted on Burn City Sports
By Tanner Tortorella | Last updated Apr 6, 2025 6:38 PM ET

TEMPE – Since his rise to power in May 2024, Arizona State athletic director Graham Rossini has taken the university to new heights. Under his regime, ASU has had the most conference championships since 2007-2008, making it to four Big 12 championships (football, women’s volleyball, and men’s and women’s swim and dive).

The Rossini’s success in such a short time has earned him praise around the valley, and potentially a hefty raise and extension. According to the Board of Regents agenda filings, ASU will propose a three-year contract extension and raise for Rossini on Thursday. The raise will be a $300,000 increase and include many incentives.

ASU AD Rossini Salary Increase and extension:

Base Salary: $650,000 -> $950,000

Annual increase: $50,000 -> $100,000

Contract extension: 2027-> 2030

The incentives in the imposed raise would be a $60,000 bonus if Sun Devils football would repeat as Big 12 champions. And if approved, the contract would have a $100,000 signing bonus for Rossini for the job he’s done with the university’s athletic programs.

Rossini’s work isn’t only on-field success, but his ability to track down and secure elite leadership to lead ASU programs. Securing contract extensions with football head coach Kenny Dillingham and women’s volleyball head coach JJ Van Niel is essentially to keep championship-winning coaches happy in Tempe. Rossini is bringing in the top coaches in each program’s respective sport, namely the hiring of former GCU women’s basketball coach Molly Miller to the Sun Devils.

ASU’s athletics is thriving for the first time in over a decade, and Rossini is cashing in on a well-deserved raise for his work. However, consistency has been the bane of Sun Devils’ sports, making fans hesitate to buy in. However, Rossini’s next job is showing that his debut year wasn’t a fluke.

This article first appeared on Burn City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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