To view the full contract of Oregon coach Chip Kelly, click here. To view the full contract of athletic director Rob Mullens, click here.
Chip Kelly led the Ducks to 45-38 victory over the Wisconsin Badgers, and now the Athletic Department is chipping in a little extra.@@http://www.kxl.com/01/02/12/Ducks-win-Rose-Bowl-over-Badgers-45-38/landing.html?blockID=577746&feedID=10528@@
Kelly will receive an aggregate total of $235,000 in bonuses, on top of a $2.8 million salary. It breaks down like this: $75,000 for making it to a BCS Bowl game, $100,000 for winning the Pac-12 Championship, and an additional $60,000 for finishing the year in the AP’s top ten.
Despite the win, many are concerned these incentives are not in the best interest of the University.
“The University can’t afford to pay the bonuses were paying now,” said Bill Harbaugh, a University economics professor. “It’s a shame when the coaches get millions, and the players get nothing.”
Student groups are also worried that these incentives show a disinvestment in the academics. Some feel that there is a need to re-prioritize spending to favor academic all-stars.
“I am very proud of our team and think this win is great for the community, but where are the incentives for academic success?” ASUO President Ben Eckstein said.
The University administration is adamant these bonuses are common throughout top-tier football programs and are merely a bargaining chip in a coach’s contract.
“These aren’t just gifts that were given for winning the Rose Bowl,” interim University President Robert Berdahl said. “All we are doing is fulfilling the terms of the contract.”
This is, in fact, accurate. The incentives were outlined when Kelly’s contract was written back in September of 2010. The contract also outlines Kelly’s salary increases from year to year, which is scheduled to go up to $3.5 million next year. Berdahl said having a strong football programs opens up new doors for other sports with lower budgets and also helps the University.
“I would prefer that they pay the president as much as they do the football coach, but that’s just not in the cards anywhere,” Berdahl said.
Kelly’s contract isn’t the only one that outlines incentives, though. Athletic Director Rob Mullens receives an extra $50,000 for a bowl appearance. Mullens also receives incentives for doing well in the Directors Cup, an interscholastic competition between the athletic directors of each school. As of the December standings, Oregon ranks 38th, which translates to a $10,000 incentive bonus for Mullens. @@which is some serious bull@@
Despite much controversy, the department remains steadfast on the subject. Mullens says the incentives drive the program to put the University in a national spotlight.
“It’s very important for the University to be on that stage,” Mullens said, “to have such a large event in Southern California with an alumni booth and a registrar booth both handing out information on our school, it gives us a chance to shine the light on all the great things going on at this University.”