Bad contracts
5. Kirby Smart, Georgia
Total 2019 compensation: $6.87 million
Contract end date: Dec. 31, 2024
Buyout: $24.24 million
Why the school paid so much: Smart’s contract has changed significantly in a relatively short period of time. When he was initially hired as a first-time head coach, Smart’s deal with Georgia averaged around $3.75 million per year, which was slightly less than his predecessor Mark Richt was making. But after Smart’s second season when he led Georgia to the SEC championship and within a whisker of winning the College Football Playoff, the school locked him up to a seven-year, $49 million deal. That essentially brings him in line contractually with Auburn’s Gus Malzahn, who has also won an SEC title and made a national championship game.
Why it’s a bad contract: The largesse of Smart’s deal is tied almost exclusively to the market rate established by his peers, not the demand for him specifically. In other words, if Georgia had told Smart that it would pay him $5 million a year with a $10 million buyout — take it or leave it — would there be another college program or NFL team willing to pay him more or offer him a better situation? Probably not. Smart is a Georgia guy who is uniquely positioned at his alma mater to capitalize on an in-state talent base that’s good enough to win the national title. And yet if he doesn’t deliver that in the next few years — remember, Richt’s record through his first 3½ seasons was just as good as Smart’s — this will look like a big overpay.
6. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa
Total 2019 compensation: $4.8 million
Contract end date: Jan. 31, 2026
Buyout: $21.571 million
Why the school paid so much: It’s not written into state law that Ferentz will get a new contract every few years that extends out another decade, but it sure seems that way. This is Ferentz’s 21st season at Iowa, and he’s signed for six more, which means he’d be 70 when this current deal expires. Ferentz got his first big deal early in his tenure after three straight top-10 finishes as Iowa had to fight off significant interest from the NFL. They gave him a 10-year extension after the Hawkeyes went 11-2 in 2009 with a trip to the Orange Bowl. And then after 2015, when Iowa went 12-0 in the regular season and nearly beat Michigan State for the Big Ten title and a Playoff spot, he got another 10-year deal that essentially locks him in for the rest of his career.
Why it’s a bad contract: Just on principle, a 10-year contract for an older coach who is not competing at an elite level on a regular basis is a bad idea. Though Ferentz has certainly had some great moments at Iowa, it has basically been a middle-of-the-pack Big Ten program for the last decade with an occasional pop of national relevance. That’s OK for now, but if there ever comes a point where it looks like Ferentz is slipping, his contract may make it prohibitive to wind down his tenure amicably.
7. Chad Morris, Arkansas
Total 2019 compensation: $4 million
Contract end date: Dec. 31, 2023
Buyout: $10.004 million
Why the school paid so much: Arkansas was in a tough spot after firing Bret Bielema in 2017. After Gus Malzahn rebuffed a big-money offer to stay at Auburn, Arkansas was pretty far down the list of desirable jobs in a year with a lot of coaching changes. Not only did that limit Arkansas’ pool of candidates but it created leverage for someone like Morris, who was making a little more than $2 million a year at SMU and didn't necessarily need to take on a major rebuilding job in the SEC unless he was going to get a huge bump in pay.
Why it’s a bad contract: Plucking a successful coach from a Group of Five program is always a bit of a gamble for a Power Five school because you just don’t know if it will translate. But in Morris’ case, he hadn’t even been particularly successful at SMU with a 14-22 overall record. Though in fairness the team had improved each year, going 7-5 in his final season there, Morris’ reputation was largely formed due to his work as Clemson’s offensive coordinator. So far, though, it’s been a debacle at Arkansas as he’s 0-12 in the SEC (4-15 overall), has yet to beat a Power Five team and has lost to the likes of North Texas, Colorado State and San Jose State.
by Taboola
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5. Kirby Smart, Georgia
Total 2019 compensation: $6.87 million
Contract end date: Dec. 31, 2024
Buyout: $24.24 million
Why the school paid so much: Smart’s contract has changed significantly in a relatively short period of time. When he was initially hired as a first-time head coach, Smart’s deal with Georgia averaged around $3.75 million per year, which was slightly less than his predecessor Mark Richt was making. But after Smart’s second season when he led Georgia to the SEC championship and within a whisker of winning the College Football Playoff, the school locked him up to a seven-year, $49 million deal. That essentially brings him in line contractually with Auburn’s Gus Malzahn, who has also won an SEC title and made a national championship game.
Why it’s a bad contract: The largesse of Smart’s deal is tied almost exclusively to the market rate established by his peers, not the demand for him specifically. In other words, if Georgia had told Smart that it would pay him $5 million a year with a $10 million buyout — take it or leave it — would there be another college program or NFL team willing to pay him more or offer him a better situation? Probably not. Smart is a Georgia guy who is uniquely positioned at his alma mater to capitalize on an in-state talent base that’s good enough to win the national title. And yet if he doesn’t deliver that in the next few years — remember, Richt’s record through his first 3½ seasons was just as good as Smart’s — this will look like a big overpay.
6. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa
Total 2019 compensation: $4.8 million
Contract end date: Jan. 31, 2026
Buyout: $21.571 million
Why the school paid so much: It’s not written into state law that Ferentz will get a new contract every few years that extends out another decade, but it sure seems that way. This is Ferentz’s 21st season at Iowa, and he’s signed for six more, which means he’d be 70 when this current deal expires. Ferentz got his first big deal early in his tenure after three straight top-10 finishes as Iowa had to fight off significant interest from the NFL. They gave him a 10-year extension after the Hawkeyes went 11-2 in 2009 with a trip to the Orange Bowl. And then after 2015, when Iowa went 12-0 in the regular season and nearly beat Michigan State for the Big Ten title and a Playoff spot, he got another 10-year deal that essentially locks him in for the rest of his career.
Why it’s a bad contract: Just on principle, a 10-year contract for an older coach who is not competing at an elite level on a regular basis is a bad idea. Though Ferentz has certainly had some great moments at Iowa, it has basically been a middle-of-the-pack Big Ten program for the last decade with an occasional pop of national relevance. That’s OK for now, but if there ever comes a point where it looks like Ferentz is slipping, his contract may make it prohibitive to wind down his tenure amicably.
7. Chad Morris, Arkansas
Total 2019 compensation: $4 million
Contract end date: Dec. 31, 2023
Buyout: $10.004 million
Why the school paid so much: Arkansas was in a tough spot after firing Bret Bielema in 2017. After Gus Malzahn rebuffed a big-money offer to stay at Auburn, Arkansas was pretty far down the list of desirable jobs in a year with a lot of coaching changes. Not only did that limit Arkansas’ pool of candidates but it created leverage for someone like Morris, who was making a little more than $2 million a year at SMU and didn't necessarily need to take on a major rebuilding job in the SEC unless he was going to get a huge bump in pay.
Why it’s a bad contract: Plucking a successful coach from a Group of Five program is always a bit of a gamble for a Power Five school because you just don’t know if it will translate. But in Morris’ case, he hadn’t even been particularly successful at SMU with a 14-22 overall record. Though in fairness the team had improved each year, going 7-5 in his final season there, Morris’ reputation was largely formed due to his work as Clemson’s offensive coordinator. So far, though, it’s been a debacle at Arkansas as he’s 0-12 in the SEC (4-15 overall), has yet to beat a Power Five team and has lost to the likes of North Texas, Colorado State and San Jose State.
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Ad Content
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Jack Nicholson, Now 82 & Has To Live Like ThisMisterStocks
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People in Georgia struggle with this quiz. Can you pass?QuizFactory
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