While earning the entirety of his $181,958.40 salary from the University of Idaho, Rob Spear has found a new job in southeastern Idaho.
The former UI athletic director, fired by the Idaho State Board of Education in August after reports surfaced of his mishandling of sexual misconduct reports, is working as the Idaho Falls Auditorium District executive director. He was hired Tuesday, the Post Register reported.
Spear did not notify independent university investigators in response to complaints of sexual misconduct by a former Idaho football player in 2013. Spear’s firing came after calls from the ASUI Senate and petitions for him to resign.
Rob Spear
He was terminated from UI on convenience, meaning he will be paid the entirety of his $181,958.40 salary until his contract expires Feb. 17, 2020, according to his contract. His new salary at his eastern Idaho job will be $100,000, including benefits, the Post Register reported. Spear’s payment from UI will be offset from his payment from the Idaho Falls Auditorium District, according to his contract.
Spear will head up fundraising and public relations for the district, the Idaho Falls newspaper reported.
In answering a question about the mishandlings, Spear said, according to the Post Register, “What I can do is control what I do every single day from here on out. And what I’m going to do is bring great energy, great passion, great work ethic and devote myself to this community and this project to make sure it becomes a reality.”
The project he referred to is a $62 million project for a proposed Idaho Falls event center, to be funded $10 million from private fundraising and by a 5% transient room tax on Idaho Falls hotel bookings, the Post Register reported.
Kyle Pfannenstiel can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @pfannyyy
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to reflect that Spear’s pay from UI will be offset from the Idaho Falls Auditorium District.