New Hog Coach pay begins at $3.2 million a year

The University of Arkansas on Wednesday morning (Dec. 5) released the contract terms for Bret Bielema, who was announced on Tuesday as the new Head Razorback football coach.

During his first six years as the University of Wisconsin head coach, Bielema posted 60 wins, six bowl appearances, was ranked five times in the final AP Top 25, won two Big Ten titles and two trips to the Rose Bowl.

Bielema, 42, helped extend Wisconsin’s school-record bowl streak to 10 seasons, the second-longest active streak in the Big Ten and tied for the ninth-longest streak in the country.

Bielema's career winning percentage of .759 (60-19) is the fourth-best in the country among FBS coaches with at least five seasons of experience.

COMPENSATION
The new coach will receive a base salary of $3.2 million a year. The baseline salary for the new head hog coach – not counting all the incentives and various other forms of ancillary compensation – equals $8,767.12 a day.

“The funding for your University Salary shall be a combination of non-taxpayer, self-generated Athletic Department funds and private funds donated to the University for all amounts in excess of your line-item salary,” noted the contract.

The compensation will also include a yet-to-be established amount from The UA Razorback Foundation. Foundation funds can include paying for speaking fees.

“To provide these forms of compensation, the Foundation will prepare and enter into a separate agreement with you. Your earnings from the Foundation combined with your University Salary shall equal your Annual Compensation for each year during the Term. At our request, the Razorback Foundation has approved this arrangement,” noted the contract terms.

Bielema, like most coaches at this college level, is guaranteed payment if the UA “terminates your employment for convenience.” If fired between Jan. 1- Dec. 31, 2015, Bielema would receive $12.8 million. If fired between Jan. 1- Dec. 31, 2016, he would receive $9.6 million; if fired between Jan. 1- Dec. 31, 2017, he would collect $6.4 million; and if fired between Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2018, he would collect $3.2 million.

However, if Bielema voluntarily resigns or is fired for violating employment terms, the financial guarantees are not paid.

INCENTIVE PAYMENTS
Bielema is also eligible to collect a maximum of $700,000 a year in “performance incentives.”

Incentive payments include $350,000 for winning a national championship game, and $300,000 for appearing in a national championship game. Other incentives include:
• $100,000 for winning an SEC Championship game;
• $200,000 to appear in a semifinal playoff game in the 2014 season;
• $150,000 to appear in a non-title BCS Bowl in the 2014 season; and,
• $100,000 to appear in the Capital One Bowl or the Cotton Bowl in any season of his contract.

The incentives are non-cumulative, meaning that Bielema, for example, would be paid $200,000 if he won the SEC Championship and appeared in a semifinal game in the same season.

Bielema is also eligible for up to $200,000 a year — out of the total $700,000 – for incentive payments related to academic performance and the graduation rate of the student-athletes who play football.

MISCELLANEOUS
The contract also includes a non-compete agreement preventing Bielema from leaving the UA to coach at another SEC school.

The UA will pay – “using legally permissible funds” – the University of Wisconsin up to $1 million required under Bielema’s contract with UW to end his contract there.

Bielema also receives use of a skybox suite with 12 seats and 20 free tickets to all home games.

Bielema will also have use of two vehicles, and his moving expenses will be reimbursed “in accordance with University policy and state law.”

Link here to see (PDF) a copy of the signed contract.