University of Arizona requests to extend AD Desireé Reed-Francois

The University of Arizona submitted a request to the Arizona Board of Regents to extend athletic director Desireé Reed-Francois through March 2, 2032.

Reed-Francois has been the athletic director at the U of A since 2024, and her current contract ends on March 2, 2029.

During her tenure, the men’s basketball team made a run to the 2026 Final Four under coach Tommy Lloyd, the baseball program went to the 2025 College Baseball World Series under coach Chip Hale and the football program bounced back from a brutal 2024 to make the Holiday Bowl last year with coach Brent Brennan.

Arizona won the 2025-26 Big 12 Commissioner’s Cup, which honors an athletic department each year based on student-athletes success both on and off the field.

There were mixed reports this past year of Reed-Francois’ involvement in Wisconsin’s search for an AD.

There were also reports of discontent between Reed-Francois and Lloyd while Lloyd’s name was involved in rumors for the North Carolina head coach opening, but the basketball coach eventually signed an extension to stay in Tucson through 2031. According to the Arizona Daily Star’s Bruce Pascoe, Lloyd will report to university president Suresh Garimella.

Arizona’s initial contract with its AD paid her a base salary of $1 million for the first year with an additional duties compensation of $250,000 per contract year.

The new contract would set up this pay structure:

• Year 1 (2027-28): $1,400,000 ($1.15 million base + $250,000 for additional duties)
• Year 2 (2028-29): $1,450,000 ($1.2 million base + $250,000 for additional duties)
• Year 3 (2029-30): $1,500,000 ($1.25 million Base + $250,000 for additional duties)
• Year 4 (2030-31): $1,550,000 ($1.3 million base + $250,000 for additional duties)
• Year 5 (2031-32): $1,600,000 ($1.35 million base + $250,000 for additional duties)

Reed-Francois has performance incentives for up to $250,000 per year.

The Arizona Board of Regents will discuss whether to approve the proposed contract extension for Reed-Francois on Thursday.

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