Orlando, Fla. – Colorado athletic director Mike Bohn addressed the issue of expenses for coaches’ families to the Buffaloes’ bowl game, saying it will be taken care of but he’s not sure of the details.
Bohn said the new way of doing business at CU prohibits paying family expenses to a bowl as had been done before. A state audit of the athletic department released last week criticized such spending habits.
“It is a new way of doing business, and we’re working through it,” Bohn said. “It is our understanding that it’s not permissible to travel spouses and children on state business.”
Bohn acknowledged it is standard procedure at most universities to pay the expenses of coaches’ families at bowl games. The Buffs are preparing to play Clemson in the Champs Sports Bowl on Tuesday.
“We’re going to be fair to these coaches,” Bohn said. “Right now, it’s a fluid environment as to what exactly we’ll do.”
Bohn indicated the problem might be solved through a traditional bowl game bonus for the CU coaching staff. He would not reveal any figures.
Bohn said the new policies were a result of the state audit of the football program. However, he maintained the remaining coaches on the staff, whose contracts expire at month’s end, were not being punished.
“The bottom line is that we’re doing everything we can to not only support our coaches, but most important our student- athletes,” Bohn said. “We made a commitment to this experience by coming here early to give our players a competitive advantage.”
Donors helping CSU
Colorado State coaches and administrative staffers were accompanied by their families to San Diego for the Poinsettia Bowl tonight. CSU announced last week in the wake of CU’s audit report that no state funds would be used to pay for family travel expenses. The money was raised from donors specifically for family travel.
CSU president Larry Penley said Wednesday the school had to strike a balance between concern for employees and their families and satisfying state financial requirements.
In a statement released last week, Penley said: “Given the responsibilities that we have to the citizens of Colorado in upholding their expectations for diligent fiscal management, we will not use any university funds to help cover these expenses. While that is a common practice across the nation, at Colorado State University we are choosing to fund these travel expenses only through private donations.”
