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Michigan State releases details of Mel Tucker’s contract
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After a 2-5 season in 2020, Mel Tucker and Michigan State have rebounded with a 10-2 3rd place B1G East finish in 2021.
The Spartans went ahead and paid Tucker after his recent success. Chris Solari of the Detroit Free Press broke down the structure of his new deal on Monday.
Mel Tucker’s new $95M, 10-year contract in hand. No new buyout terms in it. It’s $2.5M before Jan. 15, 2022; $2M in 2023, $1.5M in 2024 and $1M in 2024 and beyond. (Initially read that $1M just as 2024, but the language is Tucker would owe that any time AFTER Jan. 16, 2024).
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) November 29, 2021
If MSU fires Mel Tucker at any time without cause, it would pay him “100% of the Non-Performance Related Compensation.” Meaning all of whatever remains on the $9.5 million/year on the 10-year contract. With cause (crime/moral turpitude, etc.), MSU would owe nothing per the deal.
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) November 29, 2021
First, was the amount. Tucker is getting paid $95 million over 10 years with no changes to how the buyout works. The buyout will be $2.5 million before Jan. 15, 2022, $2 million in 2023, $1.5 million in 2024, and $1 million after Jan. 16, 2024.
However, if Michigan State decides to fire Tucker at any time without cause, he’s owed the rest of the money on the contract at that time. If they find cause to fire him, then Michigan State owes him nothing.
Lastly, Solari broke down the structure and bonuses.
Salary structure for MSU coach Mel Tucker’s $95M/10-year deal:
* $5.9M base salary
* $3.1M in supplemental income’
* $100K for footwear/apparel
* $400K annual retention bonus— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) November 29, 2021
Bonuses for Tucker’s new deal:
* $25K for Big Ten coach of year
* $50K for AFCA national coach of year
* $125K for non-CFP bowl game
* $250K for CFP bowl game
* $275K for playing in CFP
* $300K for each additional CFP game/potential byes
* $500K for winning CFP championship game— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) November 29, 2021
Here’s how the deal is structured:
- $5.9 million base salary
- $3.1 million supplemental income
- $100K in footwear/apparel
- $400K retention bonus
Here’s what the bonuses look like:
- $25K for B1G coach of the year
- $50K for AFCA national coach of the year
- $125K for non-CFP bowl game
- $250K for CFP bowl game
Tucker is one of the many coaches in college football to get paid the big bucks. We’ll see how this plays out.
Grant Bricker covers the B1G for Saturday Tradition. His previous stops include the Williamson Homepage and Nashville Post.