MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Tony Gibson’s three-year contract extension will pay him $2.1 million, making West Virginia’s defensive coordinator the highest-paid assistant in program history.
The terms weren’t publicly available until Monday afternoon, when the university released the contract in response to a Freedom of Information records request.
MORE: Read Gibson’s full contract
Under the new agreement signed Nov. 27, Gibson is scheduled to earn $650,000 in 2015, followed by $750,000 in 2016 and $700,000 in 2017. He earned only $350,000 this season, his first as an FBS coordinator. That ranked lowest among defensive coordinators in the Big 12.
A source told MetroNews last week that most of Gibson’s future pay would be guaranteed under the increased base salary, because several incentive clauses had created legal hangups during negotiations.
Gibson can earn a $20,000 bonus if the Mountaineers reach the College Football Playoff national championship and another $5,000 should WVU win it all. His other incentives include:
• $15,000 for a 12-win season (scaled down to $5,000 for nine wins)
• $10,000 for a bowl appearance
• $7,500 for a conference regular-season title
None of those bonuses will be applicable should West Virginia’s APR drop below 930.
Oklahoma defensive coordinator Mike Stoops was the Big 12’s best-paid assistant this season at $850,000, which was believed to rank eighth nationally.
Gibson was only the third-highest paid assistant on the West Virginia defense this season, behind defensive line coach Tom Bradley ($600,000) and special teams/safety coach Joe DeForest ($500,000). Bradley’s salary drops to $400,000 next season and DeForest’s pay remains unknown due to an expiring contract.