West Virginia, Rich Rodriguez get creative to support football
At a time in college athletics where money matters perhaps more than ever, West Virginia and head coach Rich Rodriguez are getting creative.
Rodriguez had been working under a Memorandum of Understanding since he was first hired in December but this month completed his contract. WVSports.com obtained the contract through a Freedom of Information Act request.
Most of the major terms remain unchanged in the contract as Rodriguez is still on a five-year deal that will start at $3.5 million and increase by $100,000 each year. His on-field assistant coaches are set to receive “at least $5 million” per year of the agreement, while support staff will receive at least $2 million.
The buyout is consistent as well as a termination by Rodriguez without cause will have him pay 25-percent of the unpaid cumulative total compensation for the remainder of the term within 90 days of the termination date.
If terminated by the school, Rodriguez will be paid 50-percent of the total compensation for the remainder of the agreement, which can be reduced by the amount, if any, from compensation he would receive from other employment during the remainder of the term of the agreement.
But one interesting wrinkle added to the contract on the final page of the document was a section labeled “Exhibit B – Understandings With Respect To Certain Personal Indicia.” And it outlines that 50-percent of the royalties made out of the sale or licensing of merchandise of certain slogans of Rodriguez will be allocated to support the football program.
Those include “Hard Edge,” “Spot the Ball,” and “Hold the Rope,” for example.
It’s just another way to generate more funding for the program at a time where seemingly every dollar matters with the cost of doing business. The money would be directed by Rodriguez into the program with the support of the Athletic Director but gives another avenue to support football’s efforts.
This is a unique way to accomplish that and it’s fair to wonder if this becomes the norm. But any and all efforts help and using his own personal branding to aid in the cause is certainly unique.
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