For a second year in a row, the list of incentive bonuses earned by Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh will begin with a $500,000 payout for winning the Big Ten Conference East Division title – a goal at achieved again with a win over Ohio State.
Saturday’s win, Michigan’s first at Columbus since 2000, gives Harbaugh the chance to repeat his 2021-22 bonus windfall of more than $2.2 million. Most of that would come if the Wolverines win a second straight Big Ten championship next weekend. This title gives Harbaugh a bonus of 1 million dollars. Because this would also put Michigan in the college football playoff semifinals, Harbaugh’s separate bowl appearance bonus would be $500,000.
In terms of single compensation available this season, Harbaugh’s bonus structure is the second most lucrative for a public school Bowl Subdivision head coach, according to USA TODAY Sports’ annual football coaching compensation survey. He could end up with $3.275 million. (Former Arizona State coach Herm Edwards, who left school in September, started the season with a maximum of just under $5.6 million in bonuses at his disposal. other head coaches can get automatic contract extensions which have more overall value for the coaches.)
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Harbaugh’s bonus structure has its origins in the contract he and Michigan negotiated ahead of the 2021 season — one deal also included a $4.05 million reduction in Harbaugh’s annual base salary. As part of this arrangement, Harbaugh’s incentives were significantly increased from the $125,000 he could have received if the Wolverines played in the Big Ten title game and the additional $125,000 he could have received. get if they had won it.
After Michigan’s success last season, the sides have again renegotiated. Harbaugh’s base salary for the 2022 season was restored to $8.05 million, but the enhanced bonus package remained intact.
Last year, two days after Michigan beat Ohio State to win the Big Ten East, Harbaugh announced that all bonus money owed to him for the football team’s success during the 2021 season would be redirected to department members who had taken the pandemic. – related salary reductions during an 11-month period of 2020 and 2021 and had remained on the payroll.
In the end, 210 employees received a combined total of just over $1.5 million, according to information USA TODAY Sports obtained from the university through an open records request.
