Editor’s Note: Mat Ishbia, the CEO of Pontiac-based United Wholesale Mortgage Holding Corp. and Shift Digital CEO Stephen St. of MSU football coach Mel Tucker’s salary in a deal made public on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022. The amount was incorrectly described in a story published on Nov. 25, 2021.
Donors are paying a portion of Michigan State football coach Mel Tucker’s salary, but not as much as some might imagine.
According to records released by the university on Thursday, Mat Ishbia and Steve St. Andre will donate $24 million to Michigan State athletics, each noting their preference for money going towards the football program and funding Tucker’s salary, meaning Michigan State will be responsible for the remaining $71 million. of Tucker’s 10-year, $95 million contract.
While donors cannot specify that their donations go towards a specific trainer’s salary, they can indicate their preference for how the money is used.
Ishbia’s donation – $14 million paid in 10 installments – affirms his “affinity” to use the donation to benefit the football team, men’s basketball team or the Spartan For Life fund.
The donation of St. Andre – $10 million paid in six installments – says it “may include but is not limited to recruiting and retention for MSU’s intercollegiate men’s soccer team.”
Both agreements also state: “Nothing in this Agreement, however, shall be construed to affect MSU’s control over any employment decision relating to any coach or team member or the use of the Gift.”
The release of the agreements comes after Michigan State was ordered on Dec. 13 that it had 10 days to publicly disclose the agreements between the university and Ishbia and St. Louis. Andre used to fund much of Tucker’s contract.
Michigan Court of Claims Judge Brock Swartzle ruled that the university’s settlements for three contributions made by Mat Ishbia of United Wholesale Mortgage and Shift Digital CEO Stephen St. Andre, do not fall under the privacy exemptions in the state’s public records law.
Swartzle sided with the Detroit Free Press, which sued the records after the university repeatedly blocked the release of the agreements.
“The university respects the tenants of openness and transparency in government that the Michigan Freedom of Information Act seeks to promote,” MSU Deputy Spokesperson Dan Olsen said in a statement. “As a public body, we also have an obligation and responsibility to protect individuals’ right to privacy, while balancing the openness that fosters ethical governance.
“We deeply value and thank our generous donors for their contributions that continue to support the success of the institution and our Spartans – students, faculty and staff.”
The agreements that Ishbia and St. Andre did were included in records released by the state of Michigan on Thursday. Also included was the $32 million donation made to the Michigan State Athletics in February 2021, the largest single cash commitment in MSU history by an individual.
Most of these details were released at the time the grant was announced, including $20 million for upgrades and expansion to the football building that would bear the name of basketball coach Tom Izzo. Ishbia has also allocated $2 million to the Spartan For Life fund, which goes towards leadership and career development for MSU athletes, $2 million to the Men’s Basketball Excellence Fund, which Izzo can spend at his discretion, and $6.2 million to establish the MSU Athletics Excellence Fund which the athletic director may spend at his discretion.
The agreement also calls for the Breslin Center court to be named the “Tom Izzo Court”, while the southwest entrance will be named after Ishbia’s parents, Jeff and Joanne Ishbia.
The remaining $1.8 million will “reserve certain goods and services” for Ishbia for the next decade, including tickets and suites to Michigan State football, basketball and ice hockey games.
mcharboneau@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @mattcharboneau