Details of Whittingham's $17M contract extension released


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SALT LAKE CITY — University of Utah football head coach Kyle Whittingham signed a contract extension in January, keeping the longest-tenured coach in the Pac-12 with the university through the 2020 season.

The details of Whittingham's latest contract extension were made available to KSL.com after a government records request with the university.

Whittingham's latest agreement is his third contract extension following a contract that was offered to him in 2011 when Utah went into the Pac-12. The extension extends his deal through Dec. 31, 2020, and is worth at minimum $3.3 million per year. In all, Whittingham is expected to make at least $17 million over a 5-year period.

The latest extension increases Whittingham's base salary from $685,000 to $985,000 per season with an annual increase of $50,000. However, should Utah win more than nine games, that increase will be $100,000, making it possible for Whittingham to make as much as $17.25M over the life of his contract.

Whittingham also received an increase in his TV/radio and appearance wages, while his outfitter wage of $275,000 remains the same. He previously made $705,000, plus an extra $50,000 per year for TV/radio, but will now see a flat yearly wage of $955,000. He previously made $935,000 per year as an appearance wage but will see an increase to $1.135 million per year.

The contract also increased the money the university would have to pay to let Whittingham go as a head coach, as well as the money Whittingham would have to pay should he accept a coaching job at another university one year after leaving the program.

The university previously owed Whittingham $750,000 per year should they terminate his contract early, but have since increased that amount to $3 million per year or $2 million per year if Utah wins less than five games for two seasons in a row.

Should Whittingham terminate his contract early to coach elsewhere, he will have to pay the university $2.5 million if he left in 2016 or 2017; $1.75 million if in 2018 or 2019; and $1 million before 2020. Whittingham previously would have had to pay $600,000 plus $200,000 per year left on his contract.

Whittingham's previously established incentives and bonuses remained the same from his second contract extension.

Whittingham has been Utah's head coach since 2005 and has a 94-46 record. Should he stay at Utah through the life of his contract he'll have been the team's coach for 15 years.

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