Schools typically get stuck with the bill when they dismiss football coaches, and any outstanding severance payments depend on their negotiated contract, taking into account any supplemental compensation payments as part of this equation.
Boosters play an invaluable role in college athletics, driving coach salaries to skyrocket – but can this model continue?
Texas A&M
Jimbo Fisher’s firing may set an unprecedented college football coach buyout record of $77 Million, paid out through donor funds instead of public dollars by his university.
Money rules in college football, where loyalty isn’t always rewarded. Money pays for everything from training facilities and player extras, assistant coaches’ salaries and potential TV contract agreements.
It also gives A&M the right to dismiss coaches at will. Fisher’s contract did not contain “offset” language that would deduct any earnings made at another school from what A&M would owe him; Tom Allen and Ed Orgeron each have agreements that include this provision.
LSU
Jimbo Fisher will spend more than $75 million to buy out his fully guaranteed contract at his former school, an unprecedented sum in college football history.
Ed Orgeron will leave Baton Rouge with a $17.1 million buyout, which should not come as much of a shock given that he led LSU Tigers to one of the greatest seasons ever seen by any college team in college football history. Orgeron made an appearance at Little Rock Touchdown Club on Tuesday to discuss his departure from LSU.
Orgeron’s contract with the school includes bonus payments if his offense finishes first in SEC scoring, red zone conversions and third down conversions; plus an unique clause which promises him $500,000 extra should their team capture the national championship.
Penn State
College football can be big business. Penn State coach James Franklin stands out in this respect with his 2021 extension contract granting him $500,000 base pay and $7 million supplemental; more than most Power Five conference coaches receive.
Not to mention his incentives such as a $10,000 automobile allowance and 50 hours of private jet time! If he’s fired before his contract has concluded, any outstanding base salaries and supplemental pay must be multiplied by the remaining years on his deal and paid back immediately; next year it will increase significantly before slowly decreasing each subsequent year until finally peaking out with zero remaining at contract end.
Michigan
After leading Michigan to a College Football Playoff semifinal and performance bonuses of more than $10 Million this year, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh will receive yet another lucrative paycheck from USA TODAY Sports’ analysis of data provided through open record requests from public Bowl Subdivision schools.
Michigan Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh will earn up to two million if his team makes it to a New Year’s Six bowl without competing for national championship. Furthermore, if his team ranks among the nation’s top five in scoring offense, an additional bonus may also be awarded.
But his new contract includes a buyout that gradually decreases every year beginning January 11th – potentially making a return to NFL in 2022 more cost-effective for him.
Florida
AthleticDirectorU’s analysis indicates that, over the last 15 years, Florida is the school that has paid the highest severance payments to football coaches – ranking third overall among Power Five programs.
Mullen’s contract includes a $12 million buyout, enough to cover salaries of 10 on-field assistant coaches and one strength coach at Florida; that figure represents 50 times the average professor salary at UF.
Billy Napier, who previously held an assistant position with Louisiana State, will earn an eye-popping annual salary of over $7 Million at Florida. If he leaves for another SEC staff – or changes teams entirely – Florida will owe 60% of any remaining payments due.
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