KU football coach David Beaty to make $800,000 in base salary

LAWRENCE – It’s a modest contract by industry standards, but Kansas football coach David Beaty’s five-year pact with the school is lined with incentives.

Beaty will be paid $800,000 in annual salary but can make an additional $25,000 for each Big 12 victory, according to a copy of his contract obtained by The Eagle on Thursday.

Kansas officials previously disclosed the framework of the deal after Beaty was announced as KU’s coach in December. But Beaty’s newly-signed contract highlights the specific incentives built into the deal.

In addition to $25,000 for each Big 12 win, the contract includes the following incentives:

▪ $100,000 for a Big 12 regular-season championship, including a co-championship.

▪ $100,000 for a bowl game appearance.

▪ $250,000 for appearing in the Fiesta, Rose, Orange, Sugar, Peach or Cotton Bowl.

▪ $50,000 for being chosen national coach of the year by The Associated Press.

▪ $50,000 for being chosen Big 12 Coach of the Year.

Beaty will make $225,000 annually in base salary and $575,000 annually via a “professional services” contract. The contract also stipulates that if Kansas football were to have a winning regular season — defined as at least six victories and no more than six losses and bowl eligibility — the professional services contract will increase to $675,000 per year for the rest of the contract.

The contract also states that Beaty will receive the use of two cars, provided by KU, up to 12 tickets to each home football game, and up to four tickets to each men’s and women’s home basketball games, among other benefits.

In all, the financial investment into Beaty is a departure from Kansas’ strategy of paying premium dollar to its football coaches. After parting ways with Mark Mangino in 2009, Kansas doled out a five-year, $10 million contract to Turner Gill, who lasted just two seasons. Next came a five-year, $12.5 million package for Charlie Weis.

Even if he can cash in on a long list of incentives, Beaty will be the lowest-paid coach in the Big 12. According to a database of coaching salaries compiled by USA Today, Iowa State’s Paul Rhoades was previously the league’s lowest-paid coach at $1.8 million per season, plus incentives.

The contract for Beaty also features language that is more financially friendly for Kansas should the school fire Beaty without cause before the contract expires. The school will owe him 24 months of pay or whatever remains on the contract. The contract also includes an offset clause where Kansas would only be due to pay the difference between’s Beaty’s salary at Kansas and his new job.

This story was originally published March 26, 2015 at 2:34 PM with the headline "KU football coach David Beaty to make $800,000 in base salary."