Former KU football assistants to be compensated

Though Kansas University’s recently released football assistants find themselves in the unenviable position of being unemployed at the holidays, they’ll be well compensated for their tenures in Lawrence.

According to KU associate athletic director Jim Marchiony, offensive coordinator Ed Warinner, defensive coordinator Clint Bowen and co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Bill Miller — all of whom have contracts with the university — will receive their normal wages through the calendar year 2010.

In addition, the team’s other assistants, who do not have contracts, will continue receiving pay through June of ’10.

Warinner, who was recently named a finalist for the American Football Coaches Association’s top assistant award, is currently making $306,100 a year, while Bowen makes $265,000 and Miller makes $248,000, according to a USA Today report on college football coaching salaries.

If any of the assistants were to find employment elsewhere between now and the end of their respective payment periods, however, compensation from KU would cease.

None of the assistants remaining under former coach Mark Mangino was retained following the arrival of new head coach Turner Gill earlier this week, making the players the last remaining tie to the Mangino era at Kansas.

Warinner, Bowen, Miller, offensive line coach John Reagan, tight ends coach/recruiting coordinator Brandon Blaney, cornerbacks coach Je’Ney Jackson, running backs coach/special-teams coordinator Louie Matsakis, defensive-line coach Tom Sims and director of strength and conditioning Chris Dawson were told to clean out their offices Tuesday.

Receivers coach David Beaty, who survived the first wave of cuts, was let go Wednesday.