THE BRIAN KELLY BASICS AND LSU CONTRACT

PHOTO BY JONATHAN MAILHES

Age, birthday: 60, born Oct. 25, 1961 in Everett, Mass., raised in a Catholic-Irish family in Chelsea, Mass.

Education: St. John’s Preparatory School in Danvers, graduated in 1983 with a with bachelor’s degree in political science from Assumption College in Worcester, Mass. Was a four-year football player at linebacker and team captain in 1981 and 1982. 

Family: Wife Kelly and his children Patrick, Grace and Kenzel.

Assistant coach jobs: Assumption (1983-1986) as defensive coordinator/linebackers coach and also the women’s softball head coach, Grand Valley State (1987-88) as defensive backs coach and in 1989-90 as defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator.  

Head coach record: 284-97-2 overall (74.3 percent) in 31 seasons; 118-35-2 (76.4 percent) at Grand Valley State (1991-2003); 19-16 (54.2 percent) at Central Michigan (2004-06), 34-6 (85 percent) at Cincinnati 2007-2009, 113-40 (74 percent) at Notre Dame (2010-21)

Post-season record: 18-10 including 11-4 in six NCAA Division 2 playoff games at Grand Valley State, 2-1 in bowls at Cincinnati, 5-5 in bowls at Notre Dame including 0-1 in BCS national championship game and 0-2 in College Football Playoffs

Record coaching Notre Dame against top 25 teams in AP poll: 23-22

Record coaching Notre Dame against top 10 teams in AP poll: 5-10

Record coaching Notre Dame against top 5 teams in AP poll: 2-6

National championships: 2 NCAA Division 2 national titles in 2002 and 2003 at Grand Valley State

10-win seasons at Notre Dame: 6

Honors: AFCA Division 2 Coach of the Year 2002-2003, AP College Football Coach of the Year 2012 and 2018, FWAA Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year 2012, Home Depot Coach of the Year 2009, 2012 and 2018, Sporting News Coach of the Year 2012, Walter Camp Coach of the Year 2012, Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year 2018, Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year 2001, Big East Coast of the Year 2007, 2008, 2009, Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of Year (2020 when independent Notre Dame played in the ACC for the COVID-19 season)

No. of coordinators in Kelly’s 12 years at Notre Dame: 6 offense (longest tenure Chuck Long 3 seasons) and 7 defense (longest tenure Bob Diaco 4 seasons)

No. of NFL draft choices in Kelly’s 12 years at Notre Dame: 53 including 9 in first round. By position: 9 offensive linemen (4 first round), 9 defensive backs (1 first round), 8 tight ends (1 first round), 7 linebackers, 6 wide receivers (2 first round), 6 defensive ends, 3 defensive tackles (1 first round), 3 running backs, 2 quarterbacks

Kelly’s 10-year, $95 million contract breakdown

Annual base pay (prorated for partial years): $400,000

Annual supplemental compensation (prorated for partial years) based on value of Coach’s marketing and promotion services and name, likeness and image:

Year 1 Nov. 28, 2021 through Dec. 31, 2022 $8,600,000

Year 2 Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2023 $8,800,000

Year 3 Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2024 $8,800,000

Year 4 Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2025 $9,000,000

Year 5 Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2026  $9,000,000

Year 6 Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2027 $9,200,000

Year 7 Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2028 $9,200,000

Year 8 Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2029 $9,400,000

Year 9 Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 3030 $9,400,000

Year 10 Jan. 1 through end date $9,600,000

Bonuses

SEC

Participation in SEC championship game $75,000 OR Win SEC championship game $150,000 (Immediately following first SEC championship game win during the term, supplemental compensation will increase by $250,000 for each remaining year of the contract.

Post season bowl

Bowl eligible $500,000 and New Year’s Day Bowl participant $100,000 OR CFP semifinal participant $200,000 OR CFP championship game participant $300,000 or $500,000 winning national championship.

(Immediately following first national championship game win during the term, supplemental compensation will increase by $500,000 for each remaining year of the contract.

Coach of the Year

Win SEC Coach of the Year $50,000 AND win National Coach of the Year $75,000

Academic Incentive Compensation

Academic Progress Rate above 930 $25,000 OR

Academic Progress Rate above 970 $50,000

Other special incentives for Kelly (paid by LSU)

• Longevity compensation: He’ll annually receive a longevity compensation of $500,000 if employed on July 1 each year to be paid by July 15; a year runs from July 1 to June 30

• Courtesy vehicles: Two vehicles if available and two vehicle allowances (or a combination thereof) for $1,000 per vehicle

• Interest-free loan: Kelly will receive an interest free loan not to exceed $1.2 million of 20 percent purchase of Kelly’s primary domicile located within the 30-mile radius of the LSU’s campus.

• Moving fees: Kelly gets a relocation allowance to cover moving and pay for temporary housing for up to 90 days. If Kelly doesn’t stay at LSU for more than two seasons, he’ll repay to LSU all or part of the relocation allowance.

•Kelly will get 50 hours annually of personal private air travel.

•Buying out his previous coaching contract: LSU shall either pay directly as a business expense or fund any amounts payable to Notre Dame for breaking his contract to sign with LSU.

Termination without cause by university

If LSU terminates the employment of Kelly without cause, LSU will pay 90% of remaining base salary and supplemental compensation, which would have been payable to Kelly over the remaining term in any prorated longevity compensation for the year of termination. Following a national championship, compensation for termination by LSU without cause will include 100% of the base salary, the supplemental compensation and the prorated longevity common set compensation for the year of termination.

Termination for cause by university

LSU terminates the employment of Kelly for cause. With the definition there ought to be mutually agreed LSU shall have no obligation to Kelly to pay any further amounts beyond the end of the month, which Kelly is terminated and any incentives that have been earned but not paid.

Termination by Kelly

If Kelly terminates his employment at any time while Scott Woodward is actively employed and serving as LSU’s athletic director, Kelly will pay to LSU liquidated damages based on the date of termination as follows:

Year 1 Nov. 28, 2021 through Dec. 31, 2022 $4,000,000

Year 2 Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2023 $3,000,000

Year 3 Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2024 $2,000,000

Year 4 Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2025 $2,000,000

Year 5 Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2026  $2,000,000

Year 6 Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2027 $2,000,000

Year 7 Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2028 $2,000,000

Year 8 Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2029 $2,000,000

Year 9 Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 3030 $2,000,000

Year 10 Jan. 1 through end date $2,000,000

No liquidated damages will be due from Kelly if he leaves when Woodward is not actively employed as LSU’s athletic director.

author avatar
Ron Higgins

2 Comments

  1. Dawg! You were previously taught by Louie how to follow da money – from the taxpayers to the legislature all-da=way to the ultimate recipient. You didn’t do dat.

    • LSU coach salaries aren’t funded by tax revenue. They’re funded by the athletic department, which receives no money from either taxes or student fees, and private donations collected by TAF.

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