Fresno State president Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval expressed confidence in athletic director Garrett Klassy in negotiating a new five-year contract to lead the Bulldogs as they move into the Pac-12 Conference.

He showed just how much in an unequivocal way: Klassy, two years into the job, received a substantial pay raise and robust performance bonuses in a new 5-year deal that is essentially guaranteed, according to the contract obtained Friday by The Fresno Bee.

The new five-year deal increases his salary this year to $480,000. Klassy can also earn pay annual pay increases through the term of the deal, subject to satisfactory performance as determined by the university president and continued employment. His salary in the second year would increase to $490,000, then $505,000, $520,000 and $530,000 in the final year of the contract.

Under terms Klassy signed when he was hired in 2024, he received a salary of $410,000 per year, paid in part by the university and its auxiliary Athletic Corporation.

The new deal also includes an option to extend for up to two, one-year terms at the discretion of the university president based on performance expectations.

“I am confident,” Jiménez-Sandoval said, prior to the release of the contract. “I see great momentum with Garrett, and I see great dedication and great work ethic that I feel deeply benefits Fresno State.”

Klassy was unavailable for comment on Friday night for this report.

Management Personnel Plan employees within the California State University system are at-will; the universities reserve the right to not-retain an employee at any time without cause.

But the Klassy contract includes a clause that states: “The University and the Athletic Corporation agree to not exercise or impose any non-retention efforts without cause during the Term of this Appointment Letter.” Cause would include offenses, such as gross negligence, insubordination, a violation of NCAA or conference rules or failure to report violations by coaches, athletes or department staff.

Klassy’s pay package is very competitive within the new Pac-12

Washington State athletic director Jon Haarlow signed a five-year deal in June that includes a base salary of $600,000. Utah State athletic director Cameron Walker received a five-year contract in 2025 with a base salary reportedly starting at $540,000 and increases to $608,000 in the final year of the deal.

Oregon State athletic director Kevin Griffin received a five-year contract in June with a base salary of $500,000 and 2.8% annual pay increases. Boise State athletic director Jeremiah Dickey received a five-year contract extension in 2024 that includes a base salary of $465,000 with 2.5% annual pay raises, plus a housing stipend and performance and retention bonuses.

Terry Tumey, the Bulldogs’ athletic director prior to Klassy, signed a two-year extension in 2023 with a base salary of $390,000 that was at the low end of the Mountain West Conference.

The new Klassy contract includes bonuses tied to academic and athletic performance, and also overall budget management, football and basketball budget management and fundraising, multimedia rights and external event revenue performance. It includes:

A $10,000 bonus if the department’s year-end operating results are within 5% of the board-approved annual operating budget.A $10,000 bonus if the combined year-end operating expenditures for the football and basketball programs do not exceed 105% of their combined annual operating budgets.A $5,000 bonus if athletics fundraising revenue is at least $10 million, a $15,000 bonus if it is at least $15 million and a $25,000 bonus if it is at least $20 million.A $20,000 bonus if gross multimedia rights revenue is at least $8 million, $40,000 if it is at least $9 million and $60,000 if it is at least $10 million.A $25,000 bonus if net external event revenue from concerts, professional sporting events, camps or other special events hits $1.5 million.

No fundraising, multimedia rights or external events revenue bonus shall be earned if the athletics department exceeds the approved annual operating budget by more than 5%, unless otherwise approved in writing by the university president.

The contract does include an early-departure fee. If Klassy, who was linked to Power Four conference jobs including Purdue over the summer, were to resign prior to the end of the term he would owe the Athletic Corporation $200,000, unless directly related to personal health-related concerns.

The early-departure fee does not apply if Jiménez-Sandoval is no longer serving as university president. The university also retains sole discretion to reduce or waive the fee depending on the facts and circumstances surrounding an exit prior to the term of the contract.

This story was originally published August 22, 2026 at 1:26 PM.

Related Stories from Fresno Bee