Dana Holgorsen's West Virginia Contract Details Released

Holgorsen can make more than $14 million with incentives included.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:10 pm

By: News On 6

Dana Holgorsen's West Virginia Contract Details Released

Originally Published: Jan 26, 2011 11:8 AM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

MORGANTOWN, W.V. – The specifics of former Oklahoma State coordinator Dana Holgorsen’s new deal at West Virginia became public this week, and he stands to make as much as $14 million over the life of his contract.

As reported by the Charleston Gazzette, Holgorsen will act as offensive coordinator next season for the Mountaineers and will make $750,000. He will take over as head coach in 2012, when his salary will nearly double to $1.4 million.

His payout will then increase by $250,000 every year through 2016, where it will cap at $2.4 million. Holgorsen’s guaranteed money stands at $10.75 million, but he can add to that with incentives each year.

He will make $100,000 extra for a 10-win season, $150,000 for an 11-win season and $200,000 for a 12-win season. He also will make an additional $100,000 if West Virginia wins the Big East and $250,000 if it wins the BCS National Championship. If he meets incentives every season, the deal could be worth as much as $14.275 million.

Holgorsen never has been a head coach before, but these contract terms vastly exceed those given to Bill Stewart, his predecessor at West Virginia. They also are only slightly below the seven-year, $15.7 million extension given to OSU head coach Mike Gundy in 2008.

Despite not being head coach in 2011, the contract still gives him “managerial authority over the offense, including, but not limited to, offensive play calling, offensive personnel decisions [and] hiring and firing of offensive assistant coaches.”

Holgorsen can void his contract with a $2 million buyout after his first season as head coach, and that number declines throughout the contract.

However, the term sheet also says he can walk from the job entirely if the school is given NCAA sanctions for actions occurring before his tenure that result in the loss of 20 or more scholarships or a two-year postseason ban.

Additional benefits and incentives given by Holgorsen’s contract:

* Two courtesy cars, a suite (if available) or 25 premium tickets to home games and a country club membership.

* $25,000 for a non-BCS bowl; that number doubles for a win. $75,000 for a BCS bowl appearance with another $50,000 for a win, and $100,000 for an appearance in the BCS Championship Game with another $150,000 for a win.

* $50,000 for a spot in the final media or coaches poll Top 10 or $25,000 for the Top 25.

* $50,000 for being named National Coach of the Year; $15,000 for being named Coach of the Year in the Big East.

* $50,000 if his offense is ranked No. 1 in the country in total offense, $25,000 if it is ranked in the top five (this incentive applies to his term as offensive coordinator as well as head coach). OSU finished No. 3 under Holgorsen this season.

* $20,000 if the GPA of his team is 2.6, $25,000 if it is 2.8 or $30,000 if it is 3.0. He will also earn $10,000 if the NCAA’s academic performance rating score for the Mountaineers is at least 930 and $20,000 if it is 950. In 2010, West Virginia’s score was 952.

* Holgorsen's incentives cap at $600,000 per year. Even if his total earnings surpass this number, he will not make any more and the excess earnings do not roll over into the following season.