Strong campaign leads to long-term contract.
In return for Charlie Strong and the Louisville Cardinals dismantling the Florida Gators 33-23 in the 2013 All-State Sugar Bowl, the university is rewarding the head coach handsomely. The school agreed to a long-term contract with Strong that makes him one of the highest paid D1 football coaches in the nation.
While there has been a whirlwind of coaches being fired as of late, Strong inked an eight-year deal worth $3.7 million per year plus incentives up to $583,333 if he wins the BCS Championship game. Other incentives include a $308,333 bonus for reaching a post-season bowl, $25,000 for winning the conference, $50,000 for a top-10 ranking, $100,000 for reaching a BCS Bowl, and another $100,000 if he qualifies and wins the BCS Championship game. This is a considerable increase from last year’s compensation package worth roughly $2.7 million.
Louisville had a strong 2012 campaign (11-2) finishing 13th in the final poll and winning a share of the Big East crown. Louisville AD Tom Jurich wants to continue this unprecedented success and believes that this kind of success is only achieved through stability. This motivated Jurich to secure Strong’s services for the long term. To sweeten the deal, the contract also includes a $2.65 million bonus if Strong remains the head coach through June 30, 2018. On the flip side, if Strong wants to depart early to coach elsewhere Strong will have to pony up a $5 million exit fee. Both Strong and Jurich recognize the heavy buyout, but both parties want to show that they are in it for the long haul.
