New "Spartan for life" contract for Dantonio

Submitted by Argyle on

Per ESPN, a brief excerpt:

 

Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio has received a new contract designed to keep him a "Spartan for life."

The new deal maintains a five-year rollover clause for Dantonio, who is in his fifth year as coach and last season guided Michigan State to a team-record 11 victories and a share of the Big Ten title for the first time in 20 years. Dantonio's base salary increases from $618,000 to $650,000, and his new contract includes performance incentives such as a $100,000 bonus for winning the Big Ten championship game.

 

Link: http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/7075489/new-contract-michigan-state-spartans-coach-mark-dantonio-makes-spartan-life

 

Argyle

October 8th, 2011 at 3:58 PM ^

I don't think I realized how relatively modest Dantonio's salary was compared to some other B10 head coaches. Of course, it's still a heck of a lot of money.

superstringer

October 8th, 2011 at 4:06 PM ^

I dont think Hoke, "base contract" is all that much either. A six-digit figure that seems, uh, can I say, Spartan. But there is a load of third-party money like the TV show and stuff automatucally built in to life Hoke to over $2M guaranteed. So that number for Markie is probably not close to everything he makes.

a2_electricboogaloo

October 8th, 2011 at 4:08 PM ^

There's a lot of money when you get past base salary.  Brady hoke is only getting paid 300,000 dollars a year, as a base salary.  But with additional compensation for broadcasting, promotional and other paiments he is making over 2 million a year.  So what a base salary is really doesn't mean that much.

FreddieMercuryHayes

October 8th, 2011 at 4:06 PM ^

People are absolutely foolish if they think a bigger buyout makes hime a "spartan for life".  All it means is a bigger school will have to pay more up front for him if he chooses to leave.

mgokev

October 8th, 2011 at 4:09 PM ^

I wonder if Saban had an equally lucrative "Spartan for Life" contract at a whopping $650,000.
<br>Theres a big difference between $650,000 and $3,500,000. Big enough to leave MSU anyway...

BlockM

October 8th, 2011 at 4:17 PM ^

I think he'll be there until he retires just because once Michigan is back to its normal self he's going to have a tough time winning games and no one's going to want him. He's also perfect for MSU. Solid coach, but once recruiting dips like we've already seen happening, the results won't look as pretty.

Two Hearted Ale

October 8th, 2011 at 6:37 PM ^

A source I trust told me his old contract has an "OSU clause". I don't know if the new contract has the same clause but I wouldn't be surprised.

It makes sense for everyone involved to advertise a "for life" contract. It prevents other coaches from using speculation that he's leaving for OSU against him on the recruiting trail which helps in the event he doesn't leave but doesn't actually prevent him from leaving.

Sparty would be pissed if he left but that's the reality of college football. If you aren't Michigan, Ohio State, Texas, etc. you risk losing your coach.

NateVolk

October 8th, 2011 at 4:30 PM ^

Doesn't it seem a little desperate to make such an odd statement about your coach who was starting to get a hot seat after the 6-7 year he put up the previous year? A contract extension is fine and smart for recruiting purposes, but what's the point of calling it "forever"? I can't think of a big time program in the country that would make such a pronouncement about a guy with Dantonio's record. The expectations have never been high at State and this is another example.

This sort of reminds me of the cheesey couple we all knew in high school that would go out of their way to look serious with the promise rings and the PDAs, when everyone knew it wasn't going to last.

readyourguard

October 8th, 2011 at 5:48 PM ^

This is what $650,000 + incentives gets you these days:

1-1 vs CMU

1-2 vs OSU

2-2 vs Wisc

1-1 vs Minnesota

1-3 vs Iowa

2-2 vs PSU

0-4 in bowl games.

Countless arrests, misdemeanor and felony charges, and multiple trips from the jail to the practice field.

But we all know that contract stems from one thing, and one thing only: 3-1 vs Michigan.

 

wolpherine2000

October 8th, 2011 at 7:18 PM ^

...something to be said for stability.  OSU is going to be an eerily familiar rebuilding project with an impatient fanbase and depleted talent.  Three years of that and there are a lot of scenarios where you are spending the prime of your coaching career in a tv studio on Saturdays.