Boise State Football Coach Gets New $12 Million Contract

When the new Boise State University athletic director Mark Coyle received the keys to his office, he stated that one of his first priorities was to keep Bronco head coach Chris Petersen in Boise. True to Coyle's word, BSU sent a recommendation to the Idaho State Board of Education for a new five-year contract for "Coach Pete," one that—with incentives—will nudge the overall tally to just over $12 million.

According to the Idaho Statesman, the new contract is worth $11,748,333 over five years and breaks down to $1,706,333 in 2012, $1,898,000 in 2013, $2,098,000 in 2014, $2,298,000 in 2015 and $2,498,000 in 2016. In addition, a deal has been made with Chris Petersen Enterprises, LLC, for $250,000 granting the university permission to use Petersen's “name, image, voice, signature" for marketing, promotion and merchandise. Under this exclusivity contract, Petersen retains the right to veto any use of his likeness.

The Statesman also reported the following:

The contract is extended by a year each time the Broncos win eight games and it currently covers the time period from Feb. 1, 2012 to Jan. 31, 2017.

There is a performance bonus of $80,000 for winning a conference championship or reaching a conference championship game; $35,000 for a bowl appearance; $150,000 for a BCS appearance; or $250,000 for a national championship game appearance.

Additionally, there is an academic bonus of $40,000 for an Academic Performance Rating by the NCAA of 955 or higher. (BSU was ranked at 981 last year, which is in the top 10 percent of all FBS schools; the average for FBS programs was 949.)

Petersen’s buyout is $750,000 and the school’s buyout of Petersen is $250,000 per year left on his contract, plus any guaranteed money left in the deal, plus the pro-rated amount of his longevity incentive for the year he was fired. If Petersen leaves, he must do so after the end of the season, including a bowl game. The buyout applies to three kinds of jobs: FBS head coach; assistant coach at a school in Boise State’s conference or a conference Boise State has contractually agreed to join; or NFL head coach.

Petersen will receive a $100,000 raise for each extension year, and can earn additional money from university-sponsored camps.

Petersen’s pay is to come from athletic department revenue, not from state-appropriated funds, although the state must approve the contract. That discussion will take place at the board's meeting Wednesday and Thursday in Moscow, Idaho.

A USA Today story, published in November 2011, reported that in the six BCS conferences, the average salary of the head football coach was $2.125 million in 2011.