UB Athletic Director Danny White signs a five-year extension through 2019

The University at Buffalo and Athletic Director Danny White reached a five-year contract extension through 2019 on Wednesday.

White’s former deal, which was signed in 2012 after former Athletic Director Warde Manuel accepted the same position at the University of Connecticut, included a window to extend his contract in 2014. White said he and his family were very “anxious” to get a deal done to show “commitment to the Buffalo community and this university.”

White was 32 years old in 2012 and the youngest athletic director in the country.

White was paid more than $300,000 in 2013 – the highest contract for an Athletic Director in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) – according to USA Today. His original contract included a $75,000 payment “to assist with relocation expenses,” which White owed back to UB if he voluntarily ended his employment before June 3, 2017.

He didn’t comment on the details of his new contract.

President Trapathi described White as “vital” to be success of UB Athletics.

“We are obviously very grateful to President Trapathi and his team for giving us the leadership and continue to build on the work that’s been done here at a place that just has so much potential,” White said.

Since his hire, White had a clear plan. He wanted to rebrand UB Athletics.

A glance at his Twitter page shows a plethora of #NYBI tweets, which stands for New York Bulls Initiative. The name “New York” is now featured at midfield of UB Stadium and half court at Alumni Arena – along with an outline of New York State. The words are featured much larger than “Buffalo” on every team’s jerseys as well.

He believes the initiative has been successful in its first 28 months.

“I think by any measureable stat, the success of the New York Bulls Initiative is undeniable,” White said. “Our donations are up, our attendance is up. Ticket sales in both of our revenue generating sports are at levels we’ve never seen before.”

But with success, often comes rumors. White is no exception. Maybe it’s because of his age, family pedigree – his father is the AD at Duke – or the potential to make money at a bigger program. Speculation of where his “next job” is a discussion on blogs, in the media and on Twitter.

White hopes this contract ends these rumors.

“I haven’t been pleased with how frequently that is mentioned in the media about the notion of a stepping stone,” White said. “I think it’s the largest state school in New York, it’s the only public AAU institution in the country outside of the power-five conferences. There’s no reason to think we can’t make this a destination place for intercollegiate athletics.”

White comes from an athletic background. In addition of his father, Kevin, being an athletic director at Duke University, his brother, Michael, is the head basketball coach at Louisiana Tech University. His brother, Brian, is the associate athletics director for development at the University of Tulane. White played basketball at Notre Dame.

He worked at California State, Northern Illinois and University of Mississippi before arriving at UB. White served as the senior associate athletics director at the University of Mississippi. He was the executive director of the UMAA Foundation, which raised $17.1 million in 2010 and $17.5 million in 2011.

White’s continued his fundraising prowess in Buffalo. UB Athletics secured a $3 million commitment from the Murchie family. But White doesn’t think his presence is the reason for the donations.

“I would hope [the contract extension] doesn’t have a huge impact,” White said. “We ask that people donate to UB, not to any individual person, but I do think there is a benefit to the people who are making the long term commitments, the donors, those who are investing in our program, it’s a benefit to them to know that I’m just as invested and our staff is just as invested.”

Tunney Murchie, a ’71 graduate, former UB hockey player and one of UB’s largest donors, was a part of the executive team that hired White in 2012. Murchie says White doesn’t put pressure on the alumni to donate, but delivers presentations and is always ready for a contribution.

“He’s one of the main reasons I’ve stepped up and made commitments to the athletic department,” Murchie said. “I think they are moving in the right direction.”

Buffalo has plans to upgrade facilities – many projects center around UB Stadium. Besides stadium upgrades, one of White’s largest goals is the installation of a field house, an indoor facility for UB teams to train.

White, Murchie and other donors already began discussing the field house, according to Murchie.

“I throw my hat in there and I feel like it’s something we need to have,” Murchie said.

When White worked at Northern Illinois, a MAC school, he assisted in the completion of a $14 million Academic and Athletic Performance Center – a similar project to UB’s field house.

White said there is still work to be done.

“Not one of us is satisfied,” White said. “I think we are on to something pretty special, but there’s a lot more work ahead that has to happen.”

White wants MAC championships. He wants packed areas. He wants to build America’s next big-time college athletics brand – as is stated on UB Athletics’ website.

“That’s going to put a big smile on my face when there’s people that are being turned away at the door, not because we don’t want them in, but because we don’t have room for them,” White said.

As for 2019, White believes he will still be at UB.

“We got four kids that are growing up in Buffalo, so we are raising our family here,” White said. “We want to continue to build this athletic department so I have no intention of being anywhere but here.”

Although Murchie said he would understand if White eventually left for a bigger offer, this extension leaves the donor excited about Buffalo’s future.

“All I can tell you right now is he’s made that commitment to me to see this thing unfold,” Murchie said.

email: sports@ubspectrum.com