Boise State Rewards Bryan Harsin With A New Contract
New incentives are included in this updated deal for Harsin
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Beating rivals, P5 teams and winning equals more money.
Boise State and coach Bryan Harsin have agreed to a new contract that could begin in the 2018 season, and it was unanimously approved by the Idaho State Board of Education. Although Harsin’s base salary would stay the same ($1.45 million for 2018, plus a $200,000 annual licensing fee), he would have the opportunity to earn much more in incentives.
Incentives or bonuses for the new contract include $10,000 for a home win over BYU or $15,000 for a win over BYU in Provo. Beating a Power 5 opponent during the regular season earns Harsin $25,000. Harsin also would receive stair-stepped bonuses for winning six, seven, or all eight conference games ($25,000, $50,000, and $100,000 respectively).
Winning the Mountain Division would earn him $50,000, with an additional $100,000 for winning the Mountain West Championship. A strong Academic Progress Rate score earns Harsin up to $70,000 depending on the score. If Boise State reaches a bowl game, Harsin receives $35,000 ($100,000 for a New Year’s Six game) and an additional $15,000 for winning that game, regardless of the bowl opponent. Harsin earns $25,000 for being named conference coach of the year and $50,000 for being named national coach of the year.
The most important addition to this new contract that is missing in his current agreement is a buyout. Harsin would have a $500,000 buyout if he left by January 10, 2019. This number drops to $350,000 for 2020 and only $50,000 in the years following. This unique new contract components, if approved, can be retroactively applied to Boise State’s entire 2018 and would, of course, include any games moving forward such as when the Broncos take on BYU on November 3 at Bronco Stadium.
Harsin also only needs four more conference victories to claim his first bonus for conference game wins and the Broncos will almost assuredly make a bowl game sitting at 4-2 with six games remaining. The new contract continues to protect Harsin if Boise State were to fire him for convenience. If the school were to do so, they would owe him all of the remaining salary on his deal and his annual licensing fee through 2023.
Another important component for BSU fans is this deal alters the language around assistant coaches salaries. The current deal allowed for up to $2.2 million for the nine full-time assistant coaches, while the new deal takes into consideration the tenth full-time assistant, which was approved by the NCAA this year.
The new contract shifts the compensation more in the assistant coach’s favor by making the $2.2 million the base amount to be spent on their salaries. This new provision could possible keep talented assistant coaches such as Defensive Coordinator Andy Avalos around a bit longer than anticipated.
