Details emerge on Eliah Drinkwitz contract extension at Mizzou
Media got a chance to sit with Mizzou Athletic Director Laird Veatch on Monday to discuss the recent extension signed by Tiger football coach Eliah Drinkwitz.
“Big positive step for Mizzou in many ways,” Veatch said. “… I think most importantly, the big message that I want to relay is how critical stability is in this environment we’re in. … We really believe strongly that the stability we have is a key advantage.”
The basics
Let’s run through some basics about the contract.
First up, the total base compensation is $64.5 million across six years for an average of $10.75 million per season.
Yearly salary
- 2026: $10.25M
- 2027: $10.45M
- 2028: $10.65M
- 2029: $10.85M
- 2030: $11.05M
- 2031: $11.25M
There is also a rolling automatic extension for one year every time the Tigers reach eight regular-season wins. So if the Tigers were to continue winning at least eight games in the regular season each year as they have the past three years, the Drinkwitz contract would perpetually remain at six years with an annual increase of $200K per season.
“I do think it is intended to be a signal and a structure that says he’s our coach,” Veatch said. “And that we want to continue this process. But also at the same time, because clear that we have aspirations to be at higher and higher levels.”
Incentives
Part of those aspirations is a yearly incentive pool. The new deal for Drinkwitz has a maximum of $2M in incentives each season, breaking down into four pools.
- Pool A
He is eligible for each of these four every season.
- Academic/Social Achievement: $25K
- Top 25 Final Rankings (AP, Coaches or CFP): $25K
- SEC Coach of the Year (AP or Conference): $75K
- National Coach of the Year: $75K
All four of those can combine for $200K worth of incentives each season.
- Pool B
Only one of these three options can be added to the contract per season. It will automatically be the highest option reached:
- 10 wins: $50K
- 11 wins: $100K
- 12 wins: $150K
- Pool C
Only one of these two options can be added to the contract per season. It will automatically be the highest option reached:
- SEC Championship Game Appearance: $150K
- SEC Championship Game Win: $400K
- Pool D
Only one of these seven options can be added to the contract per season. It will automatically be the highest option reached:
- Birmingham/Gasparilla/Non-Affiliated SEC Bowl Game Participant: $100K
- Citrus Bowl or SEC Group of Six Bowl Game Participant: $150K
- CFP First Round Appearance: $400K
- CFP Quarterfinal Appearance: $500K
- CFP Semifinal Appearance: $600K
- CFP National Championship Game Appearance: $1M
- CFP National Championship Game Win: $1.25M
Assistant coaches salary pool
The new contract includes an increase from $12M to $16M for compensation designated for assistant coaches, football-specific staff members and football strength staff.
That takes Mizzou and Drinkwitz into the top half of the SEC.
“He can really continue to invest in his people, and also investing in talent,” Veatch said. “We talked about, of course, how we’re approaching NIL, Rev Share, those things are difficult in this environment to articulate in a contract. But you will see language when you see the full contract come out that our commitment to that, not necessarily numbers, but from an effort standpoint, from an investment standpoint, continuing to do all the things we’re doing and doing more to help him provide the resources that he needs to secure talent and compete.”
Guarantees
Compensation guarantees are automatically 80 percent of the remaining amount on the Drinkwitz contract as the anniversary of the start date which is Dec. 1.
So on 12/1/26, the guarantee is $44,425,000.
It drops to $36,085,00 on 12/1/27, then to $27,585,00 on 12/1/28.
As of 12/1/29 it drops to $18,925,00, then down to $10,105,00 on 12/1/30.
But those specific numbers will change with the rolling extensions to remain at 80 percent of the remaining compensation on the deal.
Buyout
Each year, the buyout will be set for the following year as of Dec. 1.
- On or before 12/1/26 the buyout is $5M
- On or before 12/1/27 it is $4M
- On or before 12/1/28 it is $3M
- On or before 12/1/29 it is $3M
- On or before 12/1/30 it is $2M
- On or before 12/1/31 it is $1M
The payout structure is 50 percent due within 30 days with the remaining 50 percent due one year following the due date of the initial payment, or as a lump sum negotiated and agreed to.
If an automatic extension is earned in the first year of the deal, all buyouts after Dec. 1, 2026 will reset by one year. But the buyout will not exceed $4M after Dec. 1, 2026.
“I would say it’s fairly consistent with what you’re seeing in our league and not too dissimilar to where it was previously,” Veatch said of the buyout. “I wouldn’t say there’s significant change there.”
NIL
Actual numbers were not laid out in the contract. But there is wording in regards to the program’s efforts to fund NIL.
“The University shall continue to make consistent efforts to provide nationally-competitive resources to support the Football program, including for player retention and acquisition. For each Contract Year during the Term, the University shall equip the Program with economic resources, including funds for name, image and likeness opportunities, revenue-sharing initiatives, and/or related funding, to allow the Team to continue to compete nationally on the field and in recruiting.
“The foregoing efforts shall be consistent with any governing laws or regulations, including any judicial rulings, legislative changes, or administrative guidance emanating from the court approved settlement in House v NCAA, or similar litigations. Should any applicable law, regulation or policy render any portion of this provision unenforceable, the University will collaborate with Coach in good faith to provide alternative funding or support to the Team. The Parties acknowledge the importance of the University’s support of the Program and, consistent therewith, Athletics Director agrees to meet with Coach at least semi-annually to review applicable law, guidelines and available data to ensure that the Program remains competitive nationally in the area of program support.
“Recognizing the difficult in objectively defining the foregoing University obligations, in no event shall failure to reach an agreement on any specific issue or otherwise meet any requirement (as required anywhere in this provision) constitute a default under the Agreement if both parties have used reasonable, good faith efforts to seek mutually beneficial solutions. To the extent any future mutually agreed upon change requires an amendment to this Agreement, such amendment shall be in writing executed by the appropriate representative(s) of each party.”
If I were to break that legalese into normal language, it shows the school is committed to putting in a good-faith effort to fully fund NIL pools. But putting a direct number into the contract in the middle of a consistently changing environment doesn’t help anybody.