What Syracuse University paid its top employees during 2025 fiscal year
Fran Brown took the top spot in SU's highest compensated employees at $3.1 million. He is followed by Adrian Autry and Kent Syverud, earning $2.19 and $1.85 million, respectively. Photos by Leonardo Eriman | Daily Orange File Photo, Joe Zhao | Daily Orange File Photo, Design by Abigail Aggarwala | Digital Design Director
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Syracuse University spent over $14.6 million paying its 10 highest-compensated employees during the 2025 fiscal year, according to the university’s Form 990 — a tax document filed annually by nonprofit organizations.
Its top five employees, in order of compensation, are Football Head Coach Fran Brown, former Men’s Basketball Head Coach Adrian Autry, former Chancellor Kent Syverud, former football Defensive Coordinator Elijah Robinson and Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff Candace Campbell Jackson, collectively earning nearly $10 million, including retirement funds and bonuses.
The document, obtained by The Daily Orange, details the university’s governance, mission and finances from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, to ensure it still qualifies for tax exemption.
Form 990 is public by law and available upon request to the university.
Of the 17 total reported incomes, six of SU’s highest-ranking employees made over $1 million during the 2025 fiscal year.
The only current university dean position to be labeled in the top 17 earners was the College of Arts and Sciences. Both Dean Behzad Mortazavi and former Dean Karin Ruhlandt appear on the list, at 13 and 17, respectively.
Chancellor Mike Haynie, Women’s Basketball Head Coach Felisha Legette-Jack, Senior Vice President and General Counsel Gabe Nugent, former Vice Chancellor and Provost Gretchen Ritter and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Brett Padgett were SU’s next five highest-paid employees that year.
This group earned a combined $4.7 million, including retirement funds, benefits and bonuses.
The vice chancellor and provost position appears on the list three times, with former provosts Ritter and Michele Wheatly at nine and 15, respectively. Lois Agnew, who currently holds the position, is at 14.
The university reported over $1.9 billion in total revenue with its endowment at $2.24 billion in 2025, up from the year prior when it was at $2.07 billion.
Here’s SU’s top 10 highest-paid employees during the 2025 fiscal year:
1. Fran Brown, football head coach
Brown received the highest collective income with a base salary of over $2.9 million, according to the form. He made an additional $145,465 in other compensation, retirement and nontaxable benefits. Brown’s compensation totaled over $3.1 million, making him SU’s highest-paid employee.
In his first year at SU in 2024, Brown led SU to 10 victories and a bowl win for the first time since 2018.
Other Atlantic Coast Conference football coaches, including Jeff Brohm of the University of Louisville and Pat Narduzzi of the University of Pittsburgh, made $5.9 million and $7.2 million in 2025, respectively.
Brown’s compensation would rank 62nd in the country, syracuse.com reported.
2. Adrian Autry, former men’s basketball head coach
Autry, who was fired in March after three seasons leading the team, was SU’s second-highest-paid employee, earning a base salary of almost $2.09 million. His total compensation, including retirement and nontaxable benefits, came out to over $2.19 million that year.
SU’s 2024-25 season was one of its worst in the program’s history, winning only 14 games and missing the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight year.
Comparatively, former North Carolina State University head coach Kevin Keatts made $3.6 million in 2025 and Boston College’s Earl Grant made $2.16 million.
3. Kent Syverud, former chancellor
Syverud, SU’s 12th chancellor, left the university three months early in April after announcing a brain cancer diagnosis. He was previously set to depart SU in June to become the University of Michigan’s president.
In the last fiscal year, Syverud’s base salary was nearly $1.1 million, totaling over $1.84 million after a $150,000 bonus, over $500,000 in retirement and a combined $68,000 in nontaxable benefits and other reportable compensation.
In 2023, Syverud was the 79th highest-paid chancellor of a private university, The Chronicle of Higher Education reported. At the time, Syverud made $1.2 million, including a $150,000 bonus and benefits.
In his first year at SU in 2014, Syverud made just over $900,000. At the time, his salary was 35% less than the average for universities comparable to SU, former Senior Vice President for Public Affairs Kevin Quinn previously told The D.O.
4. Elijah Robinson, former football defensive coordinator
Robinson left the university for Texas A&M in December 2025 after Brown demoted him to co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach earlier that month. Under Robinson, SU was ranked as the ACC’s worst scoring defense in 2025.
In the last fiscal year, he earned a base salary of almost $1.5 million with his total compensation, including retirement, other reportable compensation and nontaxable benefits, totaling over $1.58 million.
5. Candace Campbell Jackson, senior vice president and chief of staff
Jackson was appointed to her position in 2015 after previously serving at the University of Akron. In her role, Jackson works closely with the chancellor and senior leadership team to advance SU’s strategic priorities and goals, according to SU’s website.
Her base salary in the last fiscal year was $481,165. After a nearly $73,000 bonus and over $640,000 in other reportable compensation, retirement and benefits, Jackson made over $1.19 million.
6. Mike Haynie, chancellor, former vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation
Haynie, Syverud’s successor, made over $1.01 million, including retirement and nontaxable benefits, making him the sixth highest-paid employee that year. His base salary was $706,759 with an additional $155,418 raise. He also made over $15,000 in other reportable compensation and nontaxable benefits, with $134,500 for retirement.
At the time, Haynie was serving as vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation as well as executive dean at the Whitman School of Management.
He officially began his term as chancellor in May after stepping in as acting chancellor in April amid Syverud’s brain cancer diagnosis. Haynie played key roles in establishing the university’s Center for the Creator Economy and the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families.
The chancellor search committee announced Haynie’s appointment in March, making him the university’s third internally-selected chancellor and first since Melvin Eggers was appointed in 1971.
7. Felisha Legette-Jack, women’s basketball head coach
Legette-Jack joined the university in 2022 and is credited with reviving SU’s women’s basketball program. In March 2024, she was named ACC Coach of the Year, becoming the third women’s basketball coach in SU’s history to earn the honor.
She’s taken the team to two NCAA Tournaments, in 2024 and 2026, advancing to the second round both years.
In the last fiscal year, she earned a base salary of $683,632. With a $220,000 bonus and over $86,000 in other reportable compensation, retirement and benefits, Leggette-Jack made over $990,000.
8. Gabe Nugent, senior vice president and general counsel
Nugent leads the university’s Office of University Counsel, which represents SU on all legal matters. He was appointed to his role in 2023 after serving as deputy general counsel since 2014.
His base salary was $609,795 in the last fiscal year. After a $120,000 bonus and over $182,000 in other reportable compensation, retirement and benefits, Nugent made over $912,000.
9. Gretchen Ritter, former vice chancellor and provost
Ritter stepped down as vice chancellor and provost in 2024 after serving in the role for three years. She then became the university’s first vice president for civic engagement and education before becoming executive vice president and provost at the University of Minnesota in July 2025.
She played key roles in developing SU’s Academic Strategic Plan and the Syracuse Statement on academic freedom and free speech. She served as provost while the Falk College of Sport underwent its name and program changes, creating a Human Dynamics Task Force to help “reimagine” its structure.
In the last fiscal year, her base salary was $468,096. Her total compensation came out to over $899,000, including other reportable compensation, retirement and benefits. She received a $380,000 severance payment in 2024.
10. Brett Padgett, senior vice president and chief financial officer
Padgett oversees the “financial well-being” of the university, according to its website. Appointed to his role in 2022, he works closely with the chancellor to align SU’s budget with its mission and position the university well financially.
His base salary in the last fiscal year was $617,039. With a $100,000 bonus and over $177,000 in other reportable compensation, retirement and benefits, Padgett made over $894,000.
The final reported incomes on SU’s Form 990, in order, include Senior Vice President and Chief Student Experience Officer Allen Groves, Senior Vice President and University Secretary Mary Opperman, Mortazavi, Agnew, Wheatly, Professor of Law and former Senior Vice President and University Secretary Lisa Dolak and Ruhlandt.
