Newly-hired West Virginia University men’s basketball coach Ross Hodge has an average annual salary of $3 million over five years, while early success would trigger an automatic one-year extension.
Hodge signed a Memorandum of Understanding on March 26 that will be “incorporated into a mutually agreed upon employment contract with the University containing our standard employment terms for execution.”
The MOU, obtained through an open records request, states if West Virginia finishes in the top 6 of the Big 12 Conference standings or if the Mountaineers qualify for the NCAA Tournament in either of Hodge’s first two seasons as head coach, an additional year would be added to his contract at a salary of $3.3 million.
Hodge is set to earn $2.8 million in his first year with a $100,000 increase annually in the years that follow. The salary is structured very similar to the one Darian DeVries signed last year ahead of his first and only season as WVU head coach.
WVU is committed to paying North Texas $1.2 million for the buyout to Hodge’s previous employer, where the 44-year-old spent the last two seasons as head coach and the previous six as associate head coach. Hodge made $700,00 annually as head coach at UNT.
If Hodge leaves WVU before April 30, 2026, he owes WVU 75 percent of his remaining salary. That percentage drops to 56.25 if he leaves between May 1, 2026 and April 30, 2027, and then 37.5 percent if Hodge were to leave on or after May 1, 2027.
Perhaps most notably, Hodge’s buyout is attached to Wren Baker remaining Director of Athletics at WVU.
In the event Hodge leaves before April 30, 2027 and Baker is not still the Mountaineers’ Athletic Director at that time, the coach would owe 37.5 percent of what remains on his contract as opposed to the aforementioned 75 and 56.25.
Hodge worked under Baker previously at North Texas.
At WVU, Hodge has $1.75 million for assistant coaches and support staff. That figure does not include a strength coach or trainer.
Hodge will have up to $100,000 covered by WVU in relocation expenses as well as $15,000 for temporary housing, which comes at a cost of $5,000 per month for up to three months.
Other details of Hodge’s contract include:
- A courtesy automobile.
- Twenty tickets to each home men’s basketball game, four tickets to home football games and four tickets to home women’s basketball games. Additionally, Hodge receives 10 tickets for each Big 12 Tournament and NCAA Tournament contest that the WVU men’s team participates in.
- A family membership to a golf club.
- A NCAA Tournament appearance equals $20,000. A win in the NCAA Tournament ups that figure to $30,000. An appearance in the Sweet 16 or Elite Eight means $40,000, while a berth in the Final Four leads to $100,000. A National Championship would give Hodge $200,000. Each of these incentives are cumulative, meaning a National Championship would trigger a $430,000 raise for Hodge, a Final Four appearance $230,000 and so on.
- If WVU is outright Big 12 champion or shares the conference championship in the regular season, Hodge receives $40,000. That figure decreases to $30,000 for a second-place finish, $20,000 for a third-place finish and $10,000 for a fourth-place finish. A Big 12 Tournament title would give Hodge $40,000, while a runner-up finish leads to $30,000.
- Hodge would receive $30,000 if he were named Big 12 Coach of the Year and $50,000 if he’s honored as National Coach of the Year. Both are determined by NABC and/or Associated Press selections.
- Hodge is also eligible for bonuses based on season ticket sales and Academic Performance Rating. Should WVU’s season ticket sales exceed 6,500, Hodge is owed $10,000. Exceeding 7,500 in season ticket sales is good for $20,000. An APR score of at least 930 amounts to $10,000, while one of 950 doubles that amount. Hodge is also eligible for $10,000 should the team’s grade-point average be at least 2.65 through fall and spring semesters.