University Times

Men’s basketball head coach Jamie Dixon topped the list of Pitt’s five highest-paid non-officer employees in 2011, displacing then-head football coach David R. Wannstedt, who topped the list in 2010.

Wannstedt, who resigned in December 2010, fell to No. 3.

As part of its annual IRS form 990 filing, the University must disclose, among other financial information, compensation paid to its five highest-paid non-officer employees.

Tax-exempt organizations are required to list on form 990 their officers, directors and trustees, plus current key employees who are paid more than $150,000. They also must list former officers, key employees and highest-compensated employees who had more than $100,000 in reportable compensation, and former directors and trustees who had more than  $10,000 in reportable compensation in that capacity during the calendar year.

Highest-paid non-officers

According to Pitt’s form 990, in calendar year 2011 Dixon earned $2,445,682 in total compensation, made up of: base compensation ($1,350,020); bonus and incentive compensation, which for coaches includes media programming revenue and contractual performance incentives ($925,862); other reportable compensation ($25,260); retirement and other deferred compensation ($129,400), and nontaxable benefits ($15,140).

Rounding out the top five:

• Former head football coach Michael T. Graham earned $1,982,793 million, made up of base compensation ($1,010,120); bonus and incentive compensation ($916,399); other reportable compensation ($18,619); retirement and other deferred compensation ($27,973), and nontaxable benefits ($9,682).

Graham, who was hired as head coach in January 2011, left Pitt for the head coaching job at Arizona State in December 2011.

A notation elsewhere in the 990 document indicates that Arizona State University reimbursed Pitt $1 million on behalf of Graham.

• Wannstedt earned $1,296,065, including base compensation ($14,159); bonus and incentive compensation ($1,275,600); other reportable compensation ($2,048); retirement and other deferred compensation ($3,619), and nontaxable benefits ($639).

• Athletic Director Steven C. Pederson earned $844,008, including base compensation ($500,161); bonus and incentive compensation ($283,333); other reportable compensation ($10,674); retirement and other deferred compensation ($35,525), and nontaxable benefits ($14,315).

• University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute director Nancy E. Davidson earned $660,956, including base compensation ($635,752); other reportable compensation ($600); retirement and other deferred compensation ($19,600), and nontaxable benefits ($5,004).

University officers

The University reported 2011 compensation for Pitt officers:

• Arthur S. Levine, senior vice chancellor for Health Sciences and dean of the School of Medicine, $846,748 in total compensation, made up of: base compensation ($743,544); other reportable compensation ($69,781); retirement and other deferred compensation ($29,402), and nontaxable benefits ($4,021).

• Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg, $764,296 in total compensation, made up of: base compensation ($556,588); bonus and incentive compensation ($38,297); other reportable compensation ($29,157); retirement and other deferred compensation ($71,976), and nontaxable benefits ($68,278).

• Jerome Cochran, executive vice chancellor, $592,948 in total compensation, made up of: base compensation ($459,362); bonus and incentive compensation ($25,531); other reportable compensation ($24,894); retirement and other deferred compensation ($70,759), and nontaxable benefits ($12,402).

• Arthur G. Ramicone, $449,957 in total compensation, made up of: base compensation ($330,860); bonus and incentive compensation ($25,531), other reportable compensation ($27,792); retirement and other deferred compensation ($52,268), and nontaxable benefits ($13,506).

• Patricia E. Beeson, provost and senior vice chancellor, $396,633 in total compensation, made up of: base compensation ($322,370); other reportable compensation ($24,035); retirement and other deferred compensation ($39,012), and nontaxable benefits ($11,216).

• Amy Krueger Marsh, $394,703 in total compensation, made up of: base compensation ($334,064); other reportable compensation ($10,915); retirement and other deferred compensation ($35,526), and nontaxable benefits ($14,198).

• B. Jean Ferketish, secretary of the Board of Trustees, $251,188 in total compensation, made up of: base compensation ($197,220); other reportable compensation ($11,098); retirement and other deferred compensation ($29,364), and nontaxable benefits ($13,506).

The bonus and incentive compensation for Nordenberg, Cochran and Ramicone represent a six-month share of retention incentive bonuses, plus interest, Ramicone told the University Times.

The retention incentive, initiated by Pitt trustees in 2002, was a five-year plan designed to encourage four members of Pitt’s senior leadership team to remain at the University through the end of the 2007 fiscal year. Nordenberg’s incentive bonus was $75,000 a year; then-Provost James V. Maher, Cochran and Ramicone each were awarded $50,000 per year bonuses under the plan.

The bonus program was renewed on an annual basis until trustees ended it, effective Dec. 31, 2010.

Because the incentive was based on the University’s fiscal year, a half-year share was awarded and paid in January 2011. (See December 8, 2011, University Times.)

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Maher stepped down and was named provost emeritus in mid-2010. Pitt’s form 990 reported his compensation as $305,239, made up of $288,873 in base compensation, $2,044 in other reportable compensation and $14,322 in nontaxable benefits.

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The University reported that 1,652 individuals (including those listed by name) received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation in 2011.

Family member employees

The IRS requires institutions to report financial information on employees who are related to senior officers, trustees or highest-paid employees.

Receiving compensation from Pitt in 2011 were:

• Joshua Cochran of Public Safety, who earned $57,119. He is a family member of Executive Vice Chancellor Jerome Cochran.

• Anita P. Courcoulas of the Department of Surgery, who earned $210,165. She is a family member of trustee Ira J. Gumberg.

• Maryjean Lovett of alumni relations, who earned $36,148. She is a family member of trustee Robert G. Lovett.

• Erin Nordenberg of the Clinical and Translational Science Institute, who earned $40,997. She is a family member of the chancellor.

• Werner Troesken, a faculty member in economics, who earned $170,608. Troesken is a family member of Provost Patricia E. Beeson.

• Robin Maier, who earned $60,654, and John Maier, who earned $50,000, both of family medicine. The two are family members of former Provost James V. Maher.

Highest-paid contractors

Pitt paid 616 independent contractors more than $100,000 each for services during 2011. The top five were:

• Sodexo, Atlanta, food service: $29,369,318.

• PJ Dick, Pittsburgh, construction services: $20,928,844.

• Mascaro Construction Co., Pittsburgh, construction services: $18,871,489.

• SSM Industries, Pittsburgh, construction services: $11,878,971.

• Turner Construction Co., construction services: $10,493,389.

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The 2012 form 990 was posted May 15 at www.cfo.pitt.edu under “right-to-know disclosures.”

—Kimberly K. Barlow