AUSTIN, Texas - The University of Texas has hired former Longhorns quarterback Vince Young for community relations and fundraising, a $100,000-a-year job created specifically for him that wasn't posted to attract other applicants.
Young led Texas to the 2005 national championship before turning pro. He hasn't played in an NFL regular-season NFL game since 2011.
Young earned his bachelor's degree in applied learning and development from Texas in 2013. Starting Sept. 1, he'll be a development officer for program alumni relations within the university's Division of Diversity and Community Excellence, which works with first-generation college students and others from low-income backgrounds.
In a statement released by the school, Young called the job "a great way to stay connected to the university and help make a difference in the lives of underserved kids across the state."
Young was hired through a direct-appointment basis, which requires approval by the school's human resources department but not a job posting.
Gregory Vincent, vice president for diversity engagement, called such hires "rare" and said the chance to get Young was a "unique opportunity."
Vincent called Young's $100,000 salary fair and "far from the top of the range in what development officers make."
The department is funded through several mechanisms, including as grants and endowments, Vincent said. Young's salary will not be paid from tuition revenue or money meant for teaching, Vincent said.
Young filed for bankruptcy protection in January, but the case was quickly dismissed after he reached a settlement in a pair of lawsuits that let him pay his principal creditor.