Kirk Ferentz, coach of the University of Iowa football team. Pulling *at least* 1.56 million dollars.
:Q Granted, most of it through bonuses and stuff, but it's still surprising.
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IOWA CITY -- The success that will have University of Iowa football fans watching Sunday's Bowl Championship Series (BCS) announcement has made head coach Kirk Ferentz the state's highest-paid public employee.
Depending on Iowa's final national ranking after its bowl game, Ferentz's take-home pay this budget year could be as much as $1.68 million. Regardless of Iowa's final ranking, Ferentz's annual salary will be at least $1.56 million.
That is nearly 15 times the $104,795 Gov. Tom Vilsack's annual pay and nearly six times the $275,000 annual salary paid to UI Interim President Willard "Sandy" Boyd.
It's also $460,000 more than the $1.1 million Iowa State University head basketball coach Larry Eustachy, who has been Iowa's highest paid state employee, can expect this year.
Ferentz's base salary takes $510,000 from state funds and $400,000 from other sources.
Iowa's 11-1 regular season record and anticipated BCS invitation will guarantee Ferentz at least another $750,000 above his baseline $910,000 annual salary. The contract Ferentz signed in July includes cash payments as supplemental and achievement incentives.
He gets $75,000 for sharing the Big Ten Conference title with Ohio State and $75,000 for the BCS invitation. He stands to gain another $100,000 if his team ranks in the top 10 of the final USA Today/ESPN poll; $125,000 for the top five.
A national championship is worth a $250,000 bonus.
Public money does not pay the bonuses, said UI General Counsel Mark Schantz, who oversees the Iowa Board in Control of Athletics. "The way this is structured, these bonuses are only paid when there are increased football revenues and bowl proceeds," he said. "We only have this problem in good years."
:Q Granted, most of it through bonuses and stuff, but it's still surprising.
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IOWA CITY -- The success that will have University of Iowa football fans watching Sunday's Bowl Championship Series (BCS) announcement has made head coach Kirk Ferentz the state's highest-paid public employee.
Depending on Iowa's final national ranking after its bowl game, Ferentz's take-home pay this budget year could be as much as $1.68 million. Regardless of Iowa's final ranking, Ferentz's annual salary will be at least $1.56 million.
That is nearly 15 times the $104,795 Gov. Tom Vilsack's annual pay and nearly six times the $275,000 annual salary paid to UI Interim President Willard "Sandy" Boyd.
It's also $460,000 more than the $1.1 million Iowa State University head basketball coach Larry Eustachy, who has been Iowa's highest paid state employee, can expect this year.
Ferentz's base salary takes $510,000 from state funds and $400,000 from other sources.
Iowa's 11-1 regular season record and anticipated BCS invitation will guarantee Ferentz at least another $750,000 above his baseline $910,000 annual salary. The contract Ferentz signed in July includes cash payments as supplemental and achievement incentives.
He gets $75,000 for sharing the Big Ten Conference title with Ohio State and $75,000 for the BCS invitation. He stands to gain another $100,000 if his team ranks in the top 10 of the final USA Today/ESPN poll; $125,000 for the top five.
A national championship is worth a $250,000 bonus.
Public money does not pay the bonuses, said UI General Counsel Mark Schantz, who oversees the Iowa Board in Control of Athletics. "The way this is structured, these bonuses are only paid when there are increased football revenues and bowl proceeds," he said. "We only have this problem in good years."