TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) - Alabama Athletics Director Mal Moore will receive a pay raise this year that boosts his annual salary to $425,000, making him one of the best-paid athletics directors in the Southeastern Conference.

The Compensation Committee of the Board of Trustees of The University of Alabama System approved a $25,000 raise for Moore
Thursday by conference call. University of Alabama President Robert Witt proposed the raise, saying Moore's performance over the last six years has been "exceptional."

The 67-year-old Moore has served as A.D. since November 1999 and recently directed a $150 million campaign to upgrade facilities.

In the past year, he fired Mike Shula and successfully lure Nick Saban
from the NFL to be the Crimson Tide's football coach with a $4 million salary.

Witt said Moore's new salary will rank him third in the SEC.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)