Discussions are ongoing between Bruce Pearl and new Auburn athletic director Allen Greene on a contract extension for the fifth-year coach, with staff compensation being among the points in the negotiations, according to a source with knowledge of the matter.
Greene did not wish to discuss details of the negotiations in detail when asked about their status on Friday.
"I think the important part is the comment I made before about being supportive of the program, understanding that basketball across the country is not in a good space, understanding that we're we're occupying some of that space, it's all part of for myself and our team's evaluation," Greene said. "We're talking to coach Pearl about what do we want and think the future should be and he and I are going to continue to have those conversations about where we think this basketball is going. As I shared with him, my responsibility is to make sure that we're being supportive of he and his program so that we can continue to be successful."
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Pearl is entering the fifth year of his original six-year contract, which has $5.25 million in base salary remaining. According to USA Today, Pearl's salary ranked seventh among 13 public school coaches in the SEC last season, not including the $250,000 in bonuses he earned in leading Auburn to a share of its first SEC regular-season championship since 1999 and first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2003.
Beyond extending and increasing Pearl's contract, increasing the salary pool of his assistants is among the topics in the negotiations.
At the time he was fired, then-associate head coach Chuck Person was earning approximately $280,000, according to payroll records.
Assistants Harris Adler and Steven Pearl are earning approximately $184,000 and $160,000, respectively, per Auburn payroll records. Chad Prewett, who served as an interim assistant coach last season but is expected to return to director of operations now that Wes Flanigan has joined the staff, is earning $120,000.
James Crepea is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @JamesCrepea.