USA TODAY International Edition
5 quirks in college coaches contracts
Because you can never be sure of the benefits included — or, in at least one case, not included — in a college men’s basketball coach’s contract, here is a look at some of the more unusual provisions of current agreements, as obtained by USA TODAY.
Base over bonus
Albany’s Will Brown has no team-performance-based incentive bonuses prescribed in his contract. A previous version of Brown’s agreement included 12 such provisions, occupying the equivalent of three single-spaced pages, under which he could receive a maximum of $241,500 in bonuses. For the 2014-15 season, with those provisions in effect, his base salary was $301,660. Under a new contract that took effect in August 2016, Brown’s base salary is now $350,000.
“When (athletics department officials) negotiated the current contract they took into consideration the bonuses he had been attaining and added them to his base salary; therefore eliminating the bonus structure in lieu of a market base salary,” Albany records access officer Lisa Taylor said.
Beat Kansas, fund cancer research
Before this season, West Virginia’s Bob Huggins has gotten a $25,000 bonus for any regular-season victory over Kansas. That provision was eliminated from a new version of his contract. However, under a separate “Pledge Agreement,” the Mountaineer Athletic Club — the school’s athletics fundraising organization — agreed that from 2017 through 2021 (concurrent with Huggins’ contract term), it will make a $25,000 donation to the Norma Mae Huggins Cancer Research Endowment each time the men’s basketball team records a regular-season win over Kansas. “Donations made pursuant to this Pledge Agreement shall be made in honor: Coach Bob Huggins.”
Family vacation
Utah’s Larry Krystkowiak has a deal that includes a provision titled “Family Vacation.” It says that on or about Jan. 1 of each year of the deal, the university will give him $15,000 “for his use on a vacation for him and his family.” But the benefit isn’t quite that good because, of course: “This vacation compensation shall be subject to all of the withholding requirements of state and federal law for wages.”
Hardwood to greens
Among Archie Miller’s array of perks from Indiana is: “Unlimited family use of the IU Golf Course and Driving Range (including greens fees, cart fees and range balls).” In addition, his wife and daughter can accompany him to all away basketball games, including preseason and postseason tournaments, at the university’s expense.
Welcome to the club
Bobby Hurley’s initial contract with Arizona State included a membership in a country club and — if requested by Hurley, and approved by the university’s president — a membership in a social club. An amendment to his agreement that was approved by the university’s governing board in February calls for Hurley to also receive a monthly stipend of $1,200 toward membership in an athletic club.