43
Pelini’s contract saves YSU money
By Joe Scalzo
YOUNGSTOWN
Bo Pelini’s base salary will be the same as Eric Wolford, but Youngstown State will still save some money on its new football coach.
Pelini, who was hired in December, signed a four-year deal on Monday worth $213,894 — the same amount of Wolford’s last contract, which he signed on Aug. 25.
However, YSU will not pay Pelini $50,000 annually in marketing compensation, an amount Wolford made during each of his five seasons with the Penguins. The contract states that Pelini and the university made the decision mutually.
He will still be required to perform the duties required of that section of the contract, which include television and radio shows, speeches and “other appearances as reasonably requested by the university.”
The contract is a bargain for YSU, which gets one of the nation’s most high-profile coaches for a fraction of his previous salary at Nebraska. It’s a tough pill to swallow for the Cornhuskers, however, since they still owe Pelini $7.65 million through February 2019.
Not coincidentally, Pelini’s YSU contract runs through Feb. 28, 2019. Like Wolford, he can earn performance bonuses for winning the conference ($3,000), making the playoffs ($3,000 per game) and winning the national title ($20,000). Also, if YSU’s academic progress rate exceeds the NCAA standard of 930, he’ll get a $12,000 bonus. Pelini also gets a $400 per month car allowance and a membership in a local country club, as Wolford did.
If Pelini opts to leave before Feb. 28, 2017, he’ll owe the university on year’s base salary. If he leaves before Feb. 28, 2018, he’ll owe YSU $125,000 and if he leaves before Feb. 28, 2019, he’ll owe YSU $100,000.
YSU fired Wolford in November and owed him a $100,000 buyout, an amount that will be offset by his salary as an assistant offensive line coach with the San Francisco 49ers.