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View from the East
Staton too quick to extend Compher

June 30, 2017 By Al Myatt 8 Comments

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ECU athletic director Jeff Compher (Bonesville archive photo by Bonesville Staff)

In terms of accountability for firing Ruffin McNeill as football coach, East Carolina athletic director Jeff Compher has come out smelling like a rose.

It was announced Tuesday by Dr. Cecil Staton, ECU chancellor, that the board of trustees had approved a contract extension and raise for Compher.

The new contract is for five years — to April of 2023 — and includes a raise in salary to $435,000 annually.

Compher had been making $415,000 a year.

The Pirates have done well in terms of academics, community service and the proposed expansion of Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium during Compher’s watch.

The peripheral areas have their value but athletic directors at ECU should not be rewarded after the kind of football season the Pirates had in 2016.

Compher can hardly be blamed . He should be smiling all the way to the bank. Staton is the one who jumped offsides to the stunned chagrin of much of the fan base.

A more astute administrator would have waited to see how ECU performed in year two under coach Scottie Montgomery and based an evaluation of Compher accordingly.

His initial five-year deal ran into 2018 and there is not the same degree of urgency in extending ADs as with coaches, who need to assure recruits that they will be around for the duration of their playing careers.

There is a strong possibility that the raise and extension can be justified in December if the Pirates are preparing for a bowl game. Montgomery and staff have certainly generated optimism with the personnel they have attracted in the offseason.

But for now, the numbers that matter are the 3-9 overall record last season and a 1-7 mark in the American Athletic Conference.

WNCT-TV 9 sports director and Bonesville columnist Brian Bailey interviews East Carolina Chancellor Dr. Cecil Staton on the sideline at an ECU football game last fall. (Bonesville Staff photo)

Apparently, Staton doesn’t get that.

ECU is a program that got worse immediately after a coaching change initiated by Compher.

When the Pirates experienced their athletic zenith with the 37-34 Peach Bowl win over N.C. State to complete the 1991 football season at 11-1, Compher was an assistant athletic director for the Wolfpack.

Compher played one season of football at James Madison in 1980 before giving it up. Coincidentally, JMU will be ECU’s season-opening opponent in Greenville on Sept. 3.

The board of trustees, which includes former Pirate football player Vern Davenport, signed off on the deal. One wonders if anyone on the board questioned the timing of the new contract or if the move got an official rubber stamp.

The perception of Compher might be different if he had shown some degree of loyalty in his time at ECU but he has actively sought several AD positions elsewhere.

That’s in keeping with the travels of a collegiate gypsy. Compher worked in athletic administration at Western Carolina, Vanderbilt, Washington and Northern Illinois after his stint at N.C. State.

“Jeff Compher continues to demonstrate the kind of expertise and competitive spirit that will make all of our programs national powers,” Staton said.

Perhaps the former religion professor is stepping out on faith.

The basketball team was 6-12 in the AAC last season and the baseball team went 7-17. In fairness, injuries were a factor in all of the revenue sports.

Staton was a state senator in Georgia for five terms from 2004 to 2014.

Billy Ball, writing for N.C. Policy Watch, reported that Staton was involved in an email flap in 2011 when allegations arose that he had attacked Casey Cagle, Georgia’s lieutenant governor, under a fake identity, Beth Merkelson.

Staton and Cagle were rivals in the Republican party, according to Ball. A GOP activist claimed that he had connected Internet activity from Merkelson and Staton’s email accounts to the same IP address.

Staton subsequently stepped down as majority whip.

The N.C. Policy Watch article stated that UNC system president Margaret Spellings noted Staton’s Oxford degree, his background as a publishing entrepreneur, his experience as a fundraiser and his record relating to education as a politician and administrator in summarizing his qualifications.

“But to some, Staton’s hiring is just the latest evidence that Spellings, a former George W. Bush-era education reformer for the GOP, and the UNC system’s Board of Governors, restocked with conservative leaders appointed by the legislature, pursue an ideological, rather than academic, agenda,” Ball said.

The article characterized Staton as an advocate for Voter ID legislation.

The intent here is to present information about Staton’s background, not to judge him on his politics.

Staton is drawing $450,000 annually. His predecessor, Dr. Steve Ballard, was making $322,000.

Ballard nearly hired a less-qualified applicant as AD before bringing in Terry Holland.

Staton has made a mistake, too, but it appears Pirate Nation will have to live with it for the time being. Perhaps the football team can make the issue irrelevant.

A good football season also could help Compher land the Power Five AD assignment he obviously craves.

At the least, it gives Montgomery more assurance of job security since Compher has a greater degree of commitment to him as his own hire. If Compher is around, then Montgomery likely will be, too.

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Comments

  1. richard denton says

    June 30, 2017 at 6:25 am

    Have to agree with you, Al. Bad decision. I think the minuses outweigh the pluses.Was he judged the same way as he judged Ruff? The decision to add a womens LAX program at a cost of $600,000. per year when we are having other sports taking a 10% budget reduction makes no sense at all.This was not mandated by the conference or the NCAA. It was his decision. I am very disappointed in Dr. Staton and the BOT. I think we would have been better served by not renewing his contract and moving Nick Floyd to AD.

    Reply
  2. Bill Clinton says

    June 30, 2017 at 7:29 am

    ECU athletics is in a downward spiral and I do not see this decision as a way to turn it around.

    Reply
  3. Chuck Rigsbee says

    June 30, 2017 at 7:33 am

    Can’t get out of our own way.

    Reply
  4. Not Al Myatt says

    June 30, 2017 at 9:06 am

    Just cant not talk politics in an article about extension of our AD. What the hell does any of that have to do with it? Why does everyone in the media have to have a political angle. I guess it makes it cool since you put a disclaimer in there. Well in honor of that with all due respect Stanton`s politics have no damn bearing on his extension for our AD. Also your source the NC Policy Watch is a progressive liberal think tank so nice work there to.

    Reply
    • Ihatecheetos says

      June 30, 2017 at 1:13 pm

      You poor snowflake. The background on Staton completely relates to the extension of an AD with Zero athletic accomplishments under his watch. Staton has NO athletic background or ties during his educational tenure and his most recent employment was as a politician. Not a very good one at that. The background provided for the reporter relates directly Statons decision making skills as it relates to athletics. Typically, folks in this position have at least some semblance of experience in athletics. Staton has NONE. That’s what happens when the repubtard Gov and BOG are political lackeys and left in control.

      Reply
      • The Kidd says

        July 16, 2017 at 7:15 am

        I think this is the most stupid comment I’ve ever seen on a Pirate forum!

        Reply
        • The Kidd says

          July 16, 2017 at 7:18 am

          The ” Ihatecheetos” comment I mean is the most stupid one I’ve ever seen on a Pirate forum.

          Reply
  5. Richard Flye says

    June 30, 2017 at 2:12 pm

    I agree that Staton should have awaited until next year to consider an extension. However, I disagree with your statement “ECU is a program that got worse immediately after a coaching change initiated by Compher.” It is easy to come to that conclusion if you just consider the win/loss record. It is my belief there was ample evidence overall to make a change. I further argue there was a good chance Ruffin would have had a worse season then Montgomery in 2016. Not necessarily just wins and losses, but overall morale within the program and out. I, for one, was not confident in the program after Ruffin’s last year but I probably would have given him one more year. Give Montgomery time to lift the program up and Compher time on his decision to change leadership.

    Reply

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