How much do Pac-12 coaches make?


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Editor's note: A detailed infographic follows the text of this article. The contract for Rich Rodriguez does not reflect the extension contract he received earlier in 2014. An updated contract is still in working order, according to the university.SALT LAKE CITY — It should come as no surprise that college athletics, particularly basketball and football, attract big money. Universities are forced to dole out large contracts to its money-making programs to have an competitive edge over other schools and conferences.

The rise of money in college athletics has been well documented and discussed ad nauseum, particularly in light of whether athletes should be compensated for performance and their likeness.

Most schools in the Power Five conferences pay their coaches large salaries in an effort to attract high-end coaches, be competitive and attract quality recruits. And the Pac-12 is no different.

Although every coach’s contract in the Pac-12 pales in comparison to Alabama’s Nick Saban’s annual base salary of $7.5 million, the contracts are equally significant on their own.

Through the Freedom of Information Act law, the contracts of all the head coaches in the Pac-12 were obtained, except for Stanford’s David Shaw and USC’s Steve Sarkisian, both of which are employed by private institutions who aren’t required to release contracts.

The following are highlights of the contracts in the Pac-12:

Base salary:

The highly coveted Chris Petersen makes the top of the list as the highest paid coach in the Pac-12. With Boise State having a successful decade, it took a significant amount of money and the right program to pull Petersen away from the Idaho powerhouse. Petersen brings in $3.2 million per season ($18 million in five years) in base salary, with the closest coach being in-state rival Washington State's Mike Leach at $2 million per season ($14 million in seven years).

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In order of base salary: Oregon's Mark Helfrich ($1.8 million in 2014, $9 million over five years); Arizona's Rich Rodriguez ($1.43 million in 2014, $8.1 million over six years); Oregon State's Mike Riley ($1.06 million in 2014, $15.3 million over 18 years); Arizona State's Todd Graham ($700,000 in 2014, $3.5 million over five years); Utah's Kyle Whittingham ($590,000 in 2014, $3.39 million over six years); UCLA's Jim Mora ($300,000 in 2014, $1.8 million over six years); Cal's Sonny Dykes ($250,000 in 2014, $1.25 million over five years); and Colorado's Mike MacIntrye ($250,000 over five years).

If Oregon wins more than 11 games, an additional year is added to Helfrich's contract. Riley, too, has a simliar option: If his team goes to a bowl game, an additional year is added to his contract and an additional $100,000 will be added on top of his base salary.

Radio and television revenue:

Most coaches are required to do radio and television spots for the various networks and for the university. Not all coaches make a set salary from the appearances, though.

Arizona State's Todd Graham brings in the most money per year with $1.7 million in 2014 ($8.95 million in five years). Cal's Sonny Dykes will bring in $1.55 million in 2014 ($8.45 million in five years). However, Dykes' contract combines radio and television revenue with public appearances under the umbrella term "talent fees."

In order of radio and television salary: Colorado's Mike MacIntyre ($875,000 in 2014, $3.75 million in five years); Utah's Kyle Whittingham ($620,000 in 2014, $3.57 in six years); Arizona's Rich Rodriguez ($495,000 in 2014, $2.97 in six years); Oregon State's Mike Riley ($450,000 in 2014, $8.1 million in 18 years); and Washington State's Mike Leach ($100,000 in 2014, $700,000 in seven years).

Oregon's Mark Helfrich, UCLA's Jim Mora and Washington's Chris Petersen do not collect a salary based on radio and television.

Appearance fees, public speaking engagements and fundraising:

Several of the universities in the Pac-12 merge radio and television salaries with appearance fees and public speaking engagement salaries. As a result, only three coaches receive an additional salary for public appearances and speaking engagements: UCLA's Jim Mora, Utah's Kyle Whittingam and Washington State's Mike Leach.

Mora tops this group and is set to make $2 million in 2014 ($11,935,000 over six years). Despite only making an additional salary for public appearances and speaking engagements, Mora would still be the top earner in radio/television and public appearances and speaking engagements salaries combined.

Leach will make $150,000 in 2014 ($1.05 million over seven years) and Whittingham will make $135,833.23 in 2014 ($815,000 over six years).

Official outfitter agreement:

On top of the above additional salaries paid to coaches, two coaches — Colorado's Mike MacIntyre and Utah's Kyle Whittingham — receive an additional salary for the university's official outfitter agreement.

MacIntyre is set to make $878,500 in 2014 ($4.39 million over five years) and Whittingham is set to make $275,000 in 2014 ($1.65 million over six years).

Oregon State's Mike Riley has his outfitter salary included with the money he receives for radio and television.

Incentives:

Incentives, academic and performance, vary per contract and university. While some coaches receive a retention bonus for staying with the program, others receive compensation for how many tickets are sold over the season. The following is not a comprehensive list of all the incentives coaches may earn while under contract, but some of the highlights:

  • Rich Rodriguez will make $150,000 if his team is the national champion, $100,000 if in any college football playoff bowl game, $75,000 if his team is Pac-12 champions and $80,000 if season ticket sales are over 45,000.
  • Todd Graham will make 50 percent of his single season salary ($1.2 million) if his team is the national champion, $350,000 if his team wins 12 games in a season ($50,000 if team wins 8 games) and $200,000 if his team averages a 3.0 grade point average.
  • Sonny Dykes will make $60,000 if his team makes it to the Rose Bowl game, and $45,000 if his team wins 12 games ($25,000 if team wins seven games).
  • Mike MacIntyre will make $750,000 if his team is the national champion, $250,000 if in any college football playoff bowl game and up to $100,000 for the "development of football outreach."
  • Mark Helfrich will make $250,000 if his team is the national champion, $200,000 if his team wins 12 games in a season and $100,000 if his team averages a 3.0 grade point average.
  • Mike Riley will make $125,000 if his team wins nine games ($50,000 if the team wins six games), $100,000 if his team is the national champion and 25 percent of all season ticket sales over 23,000.
  • Jim Mora will make $100,000 if his team is the national champion, $100,000 if named the national Coach of the Year and $50,000 if his team wins 12 games in a season ($10,000 if team wins six games).
  • Kyle Whittingham will make $300,000 or two months base salary ($98,333) if his team qualifies for a bowl game, $100,000 if his team wins a college football playoff bowl game and $100,000 if named national Coach of the Year ($45,000 if Pac-12 Coach of the Year).
  • Chris Petersen will make $500,000 if his team is the national champion, $400,000 if his team is in any college football playoff bowl game and $125,000 if his team reaches at least a 970 in the NCAA's Academic Progress Rate.
  • Mike Leach will make $200,000 if his team is the national champion, $100,000 if his team is in any college football playoff bowl game and $100,000 if his team is in the top 10 in the final poll of the season.

Perks:

In addition to the salaries listed above and the performance benefits, every coach receives a country club membership, at least one car for transportation, season tickets to various athletic events and travel expenses for football business.

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