NIU reaches agreement with AD Sean Frazier on contract extension through 2026

DeKALB — Sean Frazier and NIU have reached an agreement, the school announced Thursday, to extend the ninth-year athletic director’s contract through 2026.

Frazier also will receive a promotion to vice president and director of athletics and recreation. His current title is associate vice president of intercollegiate athletics/director of athletics.

According to the memorandum of understanding posted on NIU’s website, Frazier’s base salary will rise to $334,317 effective July 1, 2021.

When finalized at a future board meeting – no specific date was given in the MOU – it will be the third extension signed by Frazier since joining the school. His original base salary was $280,000. Extensions were signed in 2016 and 2018. The last base salary listed in the contract came in the 2016 contract, showing a $299,999 salary to be increased periodically during the term.

In August, reports surfaced that Frazier was a candidate for the Michigan State athletic director job, and he has been tied to reports through his tenure at the school.

The buyout on his current contract during this school year would have been $50,000. It will remain at $50,000 through June 30, 2023. After that, it falls to nothing through the remainder of the contract. It is his first extension not to include at least one year during which the buyout is not at least $100,000.

“Sean Frazier has expertly guided NIU Athletics forward through some of the most challenging circumstances in school history,” NIU President Lisa Freeman said in a statement announcing the extension. “Our student-athletes and programs continue to excel in competition and in the classroom while making a positive impact in the community and representing Northern Illinois University with integrity.

“Sean’s impact on NIU extends well beyond the realm of intercollegiate athletics as he is nationally recognized as a leader in the areas of diversity and inclusion. I’m excited to see NIU Athletics, as well as the other units under Sean’s direction, continue to grow and thrive.”

Frazier said he is focused on the future and building on the success of the past eight years.

“The work never ends, and we will continue to strive to take NIU Athletics to new heights,” Frazier said in a statement. “As we finalize this process, I want to thank President Freeman and members of the Board of Trustees for their continued trust and opportunity to serve NIU and its students, and to lead a tremendous group of coaches and staff who work extremely hard on a daily basis to move this department forward.”

Since Frazier became AD, his purview has grown to include the NIU Convocation Center, the Huskie Marching Band and NIU Recreation.