SCSU president says he renewed AD's contract for one year
By BRIAN LINDER, T&D Sports Editor Wednesday, July 29, 2009South Carolina State University President Dr. George Cooper confirmed following Wednesday’s board of trustees meeting that he has retained the services of Charlene Johnson as athletic director.
Cooper said no public announcement was made because S.C. State was not required to do so.
“State human resources guidelines tell us that we must make a decision as to who is going to return the following year,” Cooper said. “We have done that. The public does not have to know about that. Our board says that any multiyear contract that we award from the university, Ms. Johnson has had a multiyear contract. I have not presented those facts to the board, but if that happens, the public will know.”
Cooper would not say that he “renewed” Johnson’s contract. When pressed, he would only say “she is continuing as an employee of South Carolina State University.” He then said the terms of that continuation would be one year and that he approved the decision.
Cooper said he made the decision to keep Johnson on for one year because he did not fully understand long-term deals.
“Being a new president, I did not understand the terms of multiyear contracts,” he said. “I’m in the process now of reviewing contracts for the coaches and for the athletic director. They are formed in that I know what the contract says. I know what I have recommended to the board and I will review the facts, performance, expectations of the university and I will make the recommendation.”
“Our university needs an athletic director. It needs a vice president of academic affairs and student affairs. Those are the people that are critical to sustaining university functions.”
Last week, Johnson declined to answer a question regarding the renewal of her contract, which was reportedly due to end on June 30. Instead, she directed questions regarding her employment to Cooper.
A segment of the school’s alumni has expressed dissatisfaction with Johnson’s performance. Cooper said he had not personally heard such before making the decision to have her stay on.
“I have not had any conversations with our alumni about her performance as athletic director,” he said. “So your statement is based on intelligence that you have gathered and garnered, not me.”
T&D Sports Editor Brian Linder can be reached via e-mail at blinder@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5553.
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