MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen’s salary ranks seventh among his Big 12 peers this year, according to the always interesting annual USA Today report released Wednesday.
Holgorsen, who checks in at No. 37 on the national list, has the Mountaineers (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) ranked 10th in the AP poll midway through the penultimate season of a five-year, fully guaranteed contract that expires in December 2017.
That deal was negotiated by former athletics director Oliver Luck and was only finalized in August 2012, seven months after Holgorsen’s first season culminated with a 70-33 trouncing of Clemson in the Orange Bowl.
Last spring, with the coach squarely on the hot seat, MetroNews reported Holgorsen declined an extension offer from athletics director Shane Lyons. It reportedly included a buyout that could have been a money-loser in the event Holgorsen was fired before 2017.
Lyons ultimately said contract negotiations would be halted until after the 2016 season, one that so far has returned the Mountaineers to national prominence.
Holgorsen could net up to $600,000 in bonuses for accomplishments ranging from a national championship to a Big 12 title, eight or more regular-season wins, final Top 25 poll rankings, postseason coaching awards, offensive stats and team GPA.
West Virginia’s strong start, while obviously boosting Holgorsen’s leverage, raised his career record to 42-28 overall. His ledger in Big 12 conference games remains below .500 at only 18-21.
Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops remains the conference’s highest-salaried coach, though even his $5.5 million pales next to the $9 million Michigan is forking out for Jim Harbaugh.
Baylor did not reveal salary details for Jim Grobe, a fill-in after former coach Art Briles was swept away in scandal for allegedly covering up sexual assault allegations against players. Briles reportedly earned more than $4 million last season.