Money Problems

Hiring a new coach could be tricky, says The Associated Press, because of contractual obligations to both Steve Logan and John Thompson:

Logan, now quarterbacks coach for NFL Europe's Berlin Thunder, is due $200,000 per year through 2005. Because Logan's contract requires the state university to pay him the difference between whatever he makes and the $200,000, he works as an unpaid employee for the Thunder, East Carolina attorney Ben Irons said last month.

Under the terms of Thompson's settlement with the school, he will be paid until Jan. 1, 2008.

If he doesn't take another job, Thompson receives $150,000 a year - his base salary as coach. He gets $100,000 annually if another school hires him, according to the settlement that was released last week.

The athletics department will turn to boosters to help pay those salaries, which could tax East Carolina's $18 million athletics budget.

"It means we will have to call on everyone to shoulder some of the load," AD Terry Holland said. "I really believe that we'll answer the financial concerns and we'll find a way to move ahead."