Southeast Missouri State athletic director Alnutt finalizes contract

Mark Alnutt became the highest-paid employee in the Southeast Missouri State athletic department when he signed his contract Tuesday.

Alnutt's contract, which was provided to the Southeast Missourian after it submitted a Freedom of Information request, calls for him to be paid $135,000 per year, which is greater than Southeast football coach Tony Samuel's $125,000.04, although Samuel also receives 5 percent of the net revenue of all guaranteed football games. Men's basketball coach Dickey Nutt's original contract has a base salary of $120,000 per year.

Alnutt, who was introduced as Southeast's athletic director April 19, is scheduled to begin work May 21, according to the contract. The contract runs through June 30, 2017.

The contract calls for Alnutt to be reimbursed for moving expenses not to exceed $10,000. He also receives $24,000 per year from the university to purchase an annuity.

The contract also calls for Alnutt to receive a monthly allowance of $50 for cellphone service.

A provision that was not included in former athletic directors Don Kaverman's or John Shafer's contracts calls for an annual performance stipend up to $15,000. It will be based on academic and athletic goals agreed upon by Alnutt and university president Ken Dobbins, but no specifics on those goals are listed in the contract.

Alnutt's $135,000 base salary is $15,000 more per year than the contract Shafer signed before taking over in February 2009. Alnutt's annuity is $4,000 more per year than Shafer's.

Kaverman's base salary was bumped to $102,434.49 in June 2006, and he received $16,000 for an annuity.

Alnutt's contract contains nearly two complete pages that outline termination of the contract. If he decides to leave and accepts a position at another NCAA university before June 30, 2015, he will be forced to pay two times the annual base salary due him under the contract.

If Alnutt leaves for another NCAA institution between July 1,2015 and June 30, 2017, he only will have to pay one times the annual base salary due him under the deal.