Omaha Sports Insider has obtained a copy of Scott Frost's memo of understanding with Nebraska to become the Huskers next head football coach. While no formal contract has been signed as of this writing, the memo lays out the framework of his deal.
Here are a few of the highlights.
Key employment terms
Frost's deal is for 7 years, running through December 31, 2024. His annual salary will be $5 million, a portion of which he can allocate to a deferred compensation plan if he so chooses.
Frost can earn bonuses for the following achievements in Big Ten (highest applies):
- Win or tie Big Ten West division championship - $100,000
- Appear in conference championship game - $200,000
- Win Big Ten championship - $300,000
Frost can also earn bonuses based on the following bowl game achievements (again, highest applies):
- Non-CFP bowl appearance - $150,000
- CFP bowl game (Rose, Sugar, Orange, Fiesta, Peach, Cotton) appearance - $250,000
- CFP semi-final bowl game appearance - $300,000
- CFP title game appearance - $350,000
- CFP national champion - $650,000
Termination/ Buyout
If the university terminates Frost's contract without cause (for example - firing him due to on-field performance), it will owe him $5 million per year for the first five years (fully guaranteed), and $2.5 million for each year thereafter. There will be offset language in Frost's contract, lessening the amount Nebraska would owe him if he obtains another NCAA D1 or NFL coaching job.
Should Frost decide to terminate the deal, he would owe Nebraska $2.5 million per year for each year left, prorated for partial years. So, if Frost leaves Nebraska for another job, this is the amount he (or his new employer) will owe NU.
Nebraska has agreed to pay the full buyout amount Frost owes to UCF.
Perks
Frost will receive full standard benefits provided to all academic administrative employees (health insurance, etc). He'll also be reimbursed for moving expenses in accordance with Athletics policy.
Frost and his family will be provided with up to twenty hours of private plane flight time each year for personal travel.
MORE: Full coverage of Frost's introduction at Nebraska
Assistant coach provisions
Although they won't be included in Frost's final contract, the memo contained some interesting provisions for assistant coaches and support staff:
- $5 million assistants salary pool (10 full-time assistant coaches plus strength and conditioning coach),with up to 2-year contracts for each coach. Frost can also allocate some of the money to other support staff w/ the AD's approval. Note: OSI has confirmed through a Nebraska spokesperson that Matt Davison's employment as an assistant AD for football will NOT count towards this pool.
- Assistant coaches, the head strength and conditioning coach, and director of operations can also earn bonuses:
- Conference (highest applies)
- Big Ten division championship/tie - 5 percent of annual salary
- Win conference championship - 15 percent of annual salary
- Bowl (highest applies)
- Non-CFP bowl appearance - 8.33 percent of annual salary
- CFP bowl game appearance - 16.67 percent of annual salary
- CFP semi final appearance - 20 percent of annual salary
- CFP championship game appearance - 22.5 percent of annual salary
- CFP national champion - 25 percent of annual salary
- Conference (highest applies)
Nebraska has already announced thehiring and salaries for seven assistant coaches
Frost will meet annually with the AD to "review and determine mutually agreeable staff support for areas not supervised by the football coach." Some of the positions listed include:
- Sport administrator
- Sports medicine (team trainer, doctors, etc.)
- Sports information director
- Equipment room
- Life skills and player development
Check back to OmahaSportsInsider.com for more information as it becomes available.
More: Social media welcomes Scott Frost home
