Regents OK Bzdelik's Contract

The University of Colorado Board of Regents approved a five-year contract for basketball coach Jeff Bzdelik on Thursday. Inside, details of the contract.

Jeff Bzdelik was named CU head coach on April 4. That the contract was approved just over two weeks later marks a significant improvement in terms of the beaurocratic process at CU. Football Dan Hawkins and women’s basketball coach Kathy McConnell-Miller worked nearly a year before either of their contracts were finalized and approved.

Bzdelik’s contract runs through April 18, 2012. It includes a base salary for the current year of $161,000. Other guaranteed money puts it at $650,000 per year. Bonuses could drive the salary to $1 million in a given year.

The financial details of the contract are as follows:

• The initial base salary is $161,000, eligible for annual adjustments in accordance with the university’s compensation principles and policies for exempt professionals;
Annual income of $238,500 from radio and television shows as requested by the university as an integral part of his public relation activities for the school;
• Annual income of $200,000 from sponsorship support;
• Annual income of $35,000 from conducting a minimum of three annual basketball camps, guaranteed for all but the final contract year;
• An annual allocation of up to $3,500 in NIKE products;
• An annual car allowance of $7,200;
• Supplementary salary of $4,800 annually for Boulder Country Club (or a comparable facility) dues to promote effectively the interests of the university, the athletic department and the basketball program.

In addition, there are two distinct incentive clauses included in the agreement.

The first is for meeting performance objectives, incentive compensation not to exceed a total of $100,000 for academic progress toward graduation ($50,000), welfare and development of basketball program student-athletes, including citizenship ($25,000), and basketball program outreach ($25,000).

The second clause is for additional incentive salary related to competitive success, of which the below will be awarded on a cumulative basis (and dependent on NIT or NCAA tournament participation, not both). The most he could earn in one year would be $500,000 (if CU won the national title), or incremental accumulated amounts as described below:

a. $15,000 if the basketball team wins 15 regular season games;
b. $10,000 if the basketball team wins 17 regular season games;
c. $10,000 if the basketball team wins 19 regular season games;
d. $10,000 if the basketball team wins 21 regular season games;
e. $35,000 if the basketball team wins the Big 12 Conference regular season championship;
f. $25,000 if the basketball team is a semifinalist in the Big 12 Conference Tournament;
g. $10,000 if the basketball team wins the Big 12 Conference Tournament;
h. $10,000 if he is named the Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year;
i. $25,000 if he is named the National Coach of the Year;
If the basketball team participates in the National Invitation Tournament, he would receive:

j. $10,000 if the basketball team participates in the NIT postseason tournament;
k. $25,000 if the basketball team wins the NIT postseason tournament;

If the basketball team participates in the NCAA postseason basketball championship, he would receive:

l. $35,000 if the basketball team qualifies for the NCAA Championship tournament;
m. $10,000 if the basketball team advances to the second round of the NCAA Championship tournament;
n. $10,000 if the basketball team advances to the third round of the NCAA Championship tournament;
o. $10,000 if the basketball team advances to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championship tournament;
p. $35,000 if the basketball team reaches the NCAA Final Four;

If Colorado wins the NCAA Championship, he would receive a $250,000 bonus overall in lieu of the aforementioned five added together.

Also approved were moving expenses up to $15,000, and eight season tickets to football, men’s and women’s basketball home games.

Finally, the Regents approved the $270,000 buyout obligation due the Air Force Academy, Bzdelik’s previous school. CU is similarly protected by liquidation damages of $750,000 if the contract is terminated in 2008 or 2009, and $500,000 if thereafter.