OME signs Pitino to 8-year, $10 million
contract as new Medical Student Program Assistant
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ After weeks of closed-door
discussions and interviews with some of the nationís top medically-based
multitaskers, the Office of Medical Education (OME) surprised many yesterday by
naming current
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Pitino, who has established a reputation for turning around struggling programs, will step into perhaps his most challenging role to date. He takes over a program left a shambles after the resignation, less than one year ago, of legendary MSPA Tammy Armentrout.
ìNo one will ever replace Tammy,î Pitino said at a news conference this morning. ìThatís not
what Iím here to do. But if I can add to the tradition, if I can build upon and
perhaps even exceed the level of organization and efficiency she established
during her tenure, then Iíll be happy, and I hope, the students and alumni will
be happy as well.î
The happiness of students, Pitino
understands, is a prerequisite to job security in this business. And in a
tradition-rich program such as the OMEís, hapinesss is hard to win and easy to lose. Just ask Lorie
McDavid, who served three blocks as interim MSPD before being forced out after
a disappointing Block 7 marred by late block schedules and multiple mid-block
schedule revisions.
ìMaybe Lorie wasnít given a fair chance,î Pitino said. ìAs interim, this never really was her
program. She was never handed the reigns, never given time to recruit, to get
people to buy into her system. You donít turn things around overnight. It takes
a long-term commitment, from everyone involved.î
Such statements lead many to believe that Pitino is just the man for the job. In some ways, he is the
shadow of Armentrout, a man built in her very mold.
He is perhaps best known for leading a storied 
likewise, since leaving the OME, has Assisted
the
The excitement generated by Pitinoís
recent hiring has been matched only by the outrage of the medical community at
the terms of his contract. Pitino will receive a base
pay of $10.5 million dollars over six years, with performance incentives that
could bring the total to as high as $14 million. He also has signed a new shoe
contract for the OME with Fila, expected to generate an additional $6 million,
and will be paid to co-host a summer basketball camp with MU head basketball
coach Quinn Snyder.
The compensation package,
perhaps the most lucrative for any Medical Student Program Assistant in the
country, has been controversial given recent hospital-wide budget cuts and
layoffs. However, Medical School Dean William Crist has promised that funds
will not be drawn from previously allocated medical education dollars. Instead,
there will be an eight percent tuition increase, and students will now be
required to purchase printer time at a rate of $5 per hour with a six cent per
page printing fee.
ìHey, itís still cheaper than Kinkoís,î Crist said.
ìAnd besides, weíre not talking about just any medical student program assistant
here. Rick is a franchise guy, someone who knows what it takes to win. He can
motivate, he can recruit. He has the third highest winning percentage in NCAA
tournament games among all active coaches.î
And yet, despite such an impressive record, some in
the OME await the arrival of Pitino with uncertainty,
even fear. Pitino, who wants to ìstart fresh, and
clear out the rubbish,î is expected to bring in his own assistants, possibly to
replace aging veterans Robert McCallum, Judy Nolke and Jean Hall.
ìI always surround myself with people who can get
the job done,î Pitino said. ìAnd I suppose the job
was not getting done, or the OME would never have bought out the last four
years of my contract with Louisville. Iím not here to make friends. Iím here to
make progress. I just canít wait to meet the guys and get this thing started.î