Times are changing in college athletics, and contracts for Texas A&M athletic director Trev Alberts, head football coach Mike Elko and the Aggies' 10 assistant football coaches have a clause that account for the "potential changes to the financial model for collegiate athletics." The clause states, "The parties acknowledge that pending antitrust litigation, litigation regarding the employment status of student-athletes, state and federal legislation, and potential changes to NCAA and/or SEC rules could dramatically change the financial model for collegiate athletics in a manner that has a material adverse financial impact on the University, thereby creating a serious financial exigency for the University's Athletic Department." The clause goes on to say that if "a serious financial exigency has occurred, the parties agree to promptly engage in good-faith negotiations regarding the financial exigency" and an appropriate adjustment in compensation for both base salary and incentives were listed in the contract.
Those 12 contracts were obtained by The Eagle via an open records request. In late July, Yahoo! Sports reported the NCAA and power conferences had filed paperwork for a settlement agreement that would allow for a new revenue-sharing model where athletic departments could directly pay college athletes starting in 2025. The settlement sought to resolve three class-action antitrust lawsuits – House v.
NCAA, Hubbard v. NCAA and Carter v. NCAA.
Yahoo! Sports reported the settlement approval process could go into early 2025. Alberts' 5-year deal has a $2.2 million base salary Alberts has a base salary of $2.
2 million in a deal that runs through March 31, 2029. He signed the contract on July 1. A&M paid Nebraska a $4.
12 million buyout to hire Alberts. Alberts' contract comes with a number of performance-based incentive bonuses. Alberts would earn $50,000 for a top-15 finish in the Learfield Directors' Cup final standings, $75,000 for a top-10 finish and $100,000 for the top 5.
Alberts would earn $50,000 if the athletic department's combined graduation success rate is 88% or higher. Football and men's and women's basketball incentives are listed as cumulative. In football, Alberts would earn $100,000 if the Aggies win the Southeastern Conference championship or make the College Football Playoff.
He would earn $150,000 if A&M wins the CFP. In men's and women's basketball, Alberts would earn $50,000 if the Aggies win a conference regular season or tourney championship. He would earn $50,000 if A&M makes the Final Four and $100,000 if the Aggies win the national championship.
In all other athletic department teams, which are also cumulative incentives, Alberts would make $10,000 if the Aggies won a conference or tournament championship, $40,000 if A&M won a national championship, and $100,000 if the Aggies win a total of three SEC championships across all sports in the same year. Alberts has two longevity bonuses listed. He will be paid $450,000 if he is still employed at A&M through March 31, 2027 and he will receive an additional $300,000 if he fulfills his entire contract.
Alberts has a $100,000 allowance for private aircraft usage for personal travel. He also receives a dealer-provided vehicle with a $700 allowance per month, $3,000 annually for Adidas branded apparel and a country club membership in Brazos County. Alberts has a $4 million buyout until April 1, 2026.
It then drops to $3 million until April 1, 2027, $2 million until April 1, 2028 and $1 million until Sept. 30, 2029. One stipulation to Alberts' buyout is it is reduced by 50 percent if A&M president Mark A.
Welsh III leaves his position as university president before Alberts resigns. When Alberts was hired, he emphasized how Welsh was a critical figure in coming to A&M. A&M assistant coaches have 2or 3-year deals The 10 A&M assistant coaches will make a combined $6.
75 million this season. Half of the coaches have three-year deals. The other half have two-year contracts.
All of the assistant coaches have certain incentives, such as a dealer-issued vehicle through the athletic department's car program and a country club membership. There are also performance-based incentives for bonuses, such as advancing to certain rounds in the CFP. Offensive coordinator Collin Klein has a three-year deal that begins at $1.
6 million. It increases to $1.7 million in the second year and $1.
8 million in the final year. A&M paid Kansas Sate a $137,500 buyout for Klein, who also coaches A&M's quarterbacks. He signed his contract on July 13.
Defensive coordinator Jay Bateman, who also coaches linebackers, has a two-year deal that begins at $1 million and increases to $1.1 million in the second year. He signed his contract on July 24.
Wide receivers coach Holmon Wiggins has a two-year deal that begins at $950,000 and increases to $1 million in year two. A&M paid Alabama a $760,531 buyout to hire Wiggins, who is A&M's co-offensive coordinator. He signed his contract on June 19.
Offensive line coach Adam Cushing, who is A&M's run-game coordinator, has a three-year deal that starts at $650,000. His pay increases to $675,000 in the second year and $700,000 in the third year. He signed his contract on May 31.
Defensive backs coach Jordan Peterson has a two-year deal that starts at $600,000 and increases to $650,000. A&M paid Kansas a $343,251.81 buyout to hire Peterson, A&M's co-defensive coordinator.
The former Lexington High School standout and A&M player signed his contract on June 24. Associate head coach Trooper Taylor, who coaches running backs, has a three-year deal that begins at $600,000, increases to $625,000 the second year $650,000 the third year. He signed his contract on May 31.
Defensive line coach Sean Spencer has a two-year deal that starts at $500,000 and increases to $600,000. He signed his contract on June 26. Fellow Defensive line coach Tony Jerod-Eddie has a two-year deal that begins at $400,000 and increases to $450,000.
He signed his contract on July 15. Defensive backs coach Ishmael Aristide has a three-year deal with a base salary of $500,000 for the duration of the contract. A&M paid Duke a $365,000 buyout to hire Aristide.
He signed his contract on July 16. Special teams coordinator Patrick Dougherty has a three-year deal with a base salary of $400,000 for the duration of the contract. He signed his contract on June 4.
A&M paid Duke $5 million buyout to hire Elko A&M paid Duke a $5 million buyout to hire Elko last November, according to Elko's contract, which he signed on April 29. Elko has a sixyear deal with a base salary of $7 million. He has an incentive-based contract that could allow him to earn an additional $3.
8 million annually. Elko's contract has five levels of postseason incentives, which are cumulative. Level 1 begins with a $1 million bonus for making the College Football Playoff and increase $500,000 each to a $3.
5 million bonus if the Aggies win the national championship. If A&M reaches any of the five levels, an additional year will be automatically added to his contract. Elko's buyout begins at $6.
5 million in the first year, It drops to $5.5 million in the second year, $4 million in year three, $2.5 million in year four and $1 million in year five.
He has no buyout in year six. Additional benefits were included in Elko's contract. He will be provided two luxury vehicles through the athletic department's car program, a country club membership, 12 football season tickets, up to five tickets to regular season away football games, up to five season tickets to any other sport requested, a suite for his family in Kyle Field, two parking passes for regular season home football games, 40 hours of personal private plane usage, up to 120 days of temporary housing, and a $75,000 relocation bonus.
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