Records: Elliott got $515,000 salary plus perks to become football coach

Shawn Elliott received a five-year contract with a base salary of $515,000 to become Georgia State’s football coach, according to a copy of the contract received through an open-records request. The contract’s length is from Dec. 8, 2016 until Jan. 31, 2022.

Should he be terminated without cause between Dec. 8, 2016 and Jan. 31, 2020, he will be owed $1.5 million. That buyout decreases to $1 million from Feb. 1, 2020-Jan. 31, 2021, and to $500,000 from Feb. 1, 2021Jan. 31, 2022.

Elliott has agreed to not interview for other jobs while he is coach at Georgia State. Should he terminate the contract without cause, he will owe Georgia State $1.5 million from Dec. 8, 2016-Jan. 31, 2018. That amount decreases annually until it reaches $125,000 Feb. 1, 2021-Jan. 31, 2022.

In addition to his base salary, Elliott will receive $6,000 annually for a car, $50,000 annually for appearances on behalf of the University and/or Georgia State Athletic Association, $4,000 annually for apparel and $2,000 for business-related expenses and a membership in the Commerce Club.

Additionally, he will receive to spend or use as much as $1.15 million to hire a staff, as much as $35,000 to relocate, a monthly technology allowance and as many as 30 tickets to every home game.

Among his potential bonuses are $50,000 if the team wins the Sun Belt Conference championship and $25,000 if the team appears in a bowl game. Should the team win the bowl game, he would get another $25,000 bonus and his salary would increase by $25,000 annually.

He also would get a $100,000 bonus if the team appears in the College Football Playoff or in one of the New Year’s Six playoff games.

Elliott was hired by Athletic Director Charlie Cobb to succeed Trent Miles, who was terminated with two games remaining this season. He had a record of 9-38. Miles received a base salary of $450,000, which was increased to $463,500 in the summer of 2015.