UC, Fickell set to agree on $13.4M contract
Tom Groeschen , tgroeschen@enquirer.com Published 3:48 p.m. ET Feb. 17, 2017 | Updated 6 hours ago


New University of Cincinnati football coach Luke Fickell is expected to have his six-year, $13.4 million contract approved by the University of Cincinnati Board of Trustees at its next meeting Tuesday

Fickell will make an average salary of $2.23 million, slightly more than the $2.2 million average of previous UC head coach Tommy Tuberville. Tuberville resigned this past December, after UC slipped to a 4-8 record in the 2016 season. Former Ohio State assistant coach Fickell was hired Dec. 10 by UC.

According to the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) between UC and Fickell, the coach will make a base salary of $1.9 million this year in his first Bearcats season. The salary will rise to $2 million in 2018, then $2.3 million in 2019. Then, Fickell will make $2.4 million each year from 2020-2022.

Fickell will earn a $250,000 bonus if UC plays in a New Year’s Day bowl game, and $75,000 for any bowl appearance.

Other bonuses include $50,000 each for an appearance in the Top 25 CFP (College Football Playoff) ranking, winning a conference regular season title and winning a conference championship game. Any bowl win will bring $25,000.

The deal includes buyout numbers for both parties. For instance, Fickell would owe $3.5 million to UC if he leaves before Dec. 31, 2017. That number would decrease annually, to a $750,000 payout by the sixth year of Fickell’s contract.

In turn, Fickell would be owed an $11 million buyout if UC terminates him before Dec. 1, 2017. That number also decreases annually, to a $1.2 million buyout by the sixth year of Fickell’s contract.

UC is scheduled to begin spring football practice March 6.

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/c.../98049780/

Not a fan of the buyout clause.

Buyout for Termination of contract by university:
before 12/1/17: 11 million
before 12/1/18: 9.1
before 12/1/19: 7.1
before 12/1/20: 4.8
before 12/1/21: 2.4
before 12/1/22: 1.2

Buyout for Termination of contract by coach:
before 12/1/17: 3.5 million
before 12/1/18: 3.0
before 12/1/19: 2.5
before 12/1/20: 2.0
before 12/1/21: 1.5
before 12/1/22: 0.75

So that's a 2.4 million buyout if we fire him after 4 years like we did with Tubbs. That's pretty steep for a coach with a considerably lighter resume as a head coach than the last three people we hired (Kelly, Jones, and Tuberville).

(02-17-2017 11:53 PM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  Not a fan of the buyout clause.

Buyout for Termination of contract by university:
before 12/1/17: 11 million
before 12/1/18: 9.1
before 12/1/19: 7.1
before 12/1/20: 4.8
before 12/1/21: 2.4
before 12/1/22: 1.2

Buyout for Termination of contract by coach:
before 12/1/17: 3.5 million
before 12/1/18: 3.0
before 12/1/19: 2.5
before 12/1/20: 2.0
before 12/1/21: 1.5
before 12/1/22: 0.75

So that's a 2.4 million buyout if we fire him after 4 years like we did with Tubbs. That's pretty steep for a coach with a considerably lighter resume as a head coach than the last three people we hired (Kelly, Jones, and Tuberville).

Agreed. He has yet to prove himself as a HC, so those buyouts are crazy high. Its not like we leveraged them for a lower salary. If he doesn't work out we've dug ourselves much deeper. Hopefully it ends up a moot point, but it doesn't seem like UC negotiated well.

(02-18-2017 11:07 AM)cincy7718 Wrote:  

(02-17-2017 11:53 PM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  Not a fan of the buyout clause.

Buyout for Termination of contract by university:
before 12/1/17: 11 million
before 12/1/18: 9.1
before 12/1/19: 7.1
before 12/1/20: 4.8
before 12/1/21: 2.4
before 12/1/22: 1.2

Buyout for Termination of contract by coach:
before 12/1/17: 3.5 million
before 12/1/18: 3.0
before 12/1/19: 2.5
before 12/1/20: 2.0
before 12/1/21: 1.5
before 12/1/22: 0.75

So that's a 2.4 million buyout if we fire him after 4 years like we did with Tubbs. That's pretty steep for a coach with a considerably lighter resume as a head coach than the last three people we hired (Kelly, Jones, and Tuberville).

Agreed. He has yet to prove himself as a HC, so those buyouts are crazy high. Its not like we leveraged them for a lower salary. If he doesn't work out we've dug ourselves much deeper. Hopefully it ends up a moot point, but it doesn't seem like UC negotiated well.

That is the cost of business anymore and typical (Actually a bit on the lower side from some of these other guys).

(02-17-2017 11:53 PM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  Not a fan of the buyout clause.

Buyout for Termination of contract by university:
before 12/1/17: 11 million
before 12/1/18: 9.1
before 12/1/19: 7.1
before 12/1/20: 4.8
before 12/1/21: 2.4
before 12/1/22: 1.2

Buyout for Termination of contract by coach:
before 12/1/17: 3.5 million
before 12/1/18: 3.0
before 12/1/19: 2.5
before 12/1/20: 2.0
before 12/1/21: 1.5
before 12/1/22: 0.75

So that's a 2.4 million buyout if we fire him after 4 years like we did with Tubbs. That's pretty steep for a coach with a considerably lighter resume as a head coach than the last three people we hired (Kelly, Jones, and Tuberville).

You're right, we should have skipped Fickell and instead hired a lesser known, lower quality candidate who would be willing to accept a lower buyout.

This is the cost of being competitive in modern college football.

(02-18-2017 11:07 AM)cincy7718 Wrote:  

(02-17-2017 11:53 PM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  Not a fan of the buyout clause.

Buyout for Termination of contract by university:
before 12/1/17: 11 million
before 12/1/18: 9.1
before 12/1/19: 7.1
before 12/1/20: 4.8
before 12/1/21: 2.4
before 12/1/22: 1.2

Buyout for Termination of contract by coach:
before 12/1/17: 3.5 million
before 12/1/18: 3.0
before 12/1/19: 2.5
before 12/1/20: 2.0
before 12/1/21: 1.5
before 12/1/22: 0.75

So that's a 2.4 million buyout if we fire him after 4 years like we did with Tubbs. That's pretty steep for a coach with a considerably lighter resume as a head coach than the last three people we hired (Kelly, Jones, and Tuberville).

Agreed. He has yet to prove himself as a HC, so those buyouts are crazy high. Its not like we leveraged them for a lower salary. If he doesn't work out we've dug ourselves much deeper. Hopefully it ends up a moot point, but it doesn't seem like UC negotiated well.

Do not agree with this. In my mind, he has already shown something. It may not be wins and losses, but it is making the correct decision every time. Unlike the last coach, their are no rumors of disrespectful behavior toward recruits or shady financial dealings.

(02-18-2017 05:51 PM)crex043 Wrote:  

(02-17-2017 11:53 PM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  Not a fan of the buyout clause.

Buyout for Termination of contract by university:
before 12/1/17: 11 million
before 12/1/18: 9.1
before 12/1/19: 7.1
before 12/1/20: 4.8
before 12/1/21: 2.4
before 12/1/22: 1.2

Buyout for Termination of contract by coach:
before 12/1/17: 3.5 million
before 12/1/18: 3.0
before 12/1/19: 2.5
before 12/1/20: 2.0
before 12/1/21: 1.5
before 12/1/22: 0.75

So that's a 2.4 million buyout if we fire him after 4 years like we did with Tubbs. That's pretty steep for a coach with a considerably lighter resume as a head coach than the last three people we hired (Kelly, Jones, and Tuberville).

You're right, we should have skipped Fickell and instead hired a lesser known, lower quality candidate who would be willing to accept a lower buyout.

This is the cost of being competitive in modern college football.

Oh come on. It's not like he had competing offers. He was turned down for the Pitt job 2 years ago and hasn't had another interview since then. His alternative for next year was to stay on at OSU as a coordinator making $754,500.

I think he's a good hire, and I understand giving him a salary commensurate with the job. But we had all the leverage in this negotiation, and the whole point of having leverage is to be able to win on the "small print" points of the deal. Yet we went ahead and gave him a bigger buyout than any of our past 3 coaches (all of whom had much more negotiating leverage than Fickell).

(02-18-2017 07:02 PM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  

(02-18-2017 05:51 PM)crex043 Wrote:  

(02-17-2017 11:53 PM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  Not a fan of the buyout clause.

Buyout for Termination of contract by university:
before 12/1/17: 11 million
before 12/1/18: 9.1
before 12/1/19: 7.1
before 12/1/20: 4.8
before 12/1/21: 2.4
before 12/1/22: 1.2

Buyout for Termination of contract by coach:
before 12/1/17: 3.5 million
before 12/1/18: 3.0
before 12/1/19: 2.5
before 12/1/20: 2.0
before 12/1/21: 1.5
before 12/1/22: 0.75

So that's a 2.4 million buyout if we fire him after 4 years like we did with Tubbs. That's pretty steep for a coach with a considerably lighter resume as a head coach than the last three people we hired (Kelly, Jones, and Tuberville).

You're right, we should have skipped Fickell and instead hired a lesser known, lower quality candidate who would be willing to accept a lower buyout.

This is the cost of being competitive in modern college football.

Oh come on. It's not like he had competing offers. He was turned down for the Pitt job 2 years ago and hasn't had another interview since then. His alternative for next year was to stay on at OSU as a coordinator making $754,500.

I think he's a good hire, and I understand giving him a salary commensurate with the job. But we had all the leverage in this negotiation, and the whole point of having leverage is to be able to win on the "small print" points of the deal. Yet we went ahead and gave him a bigger buyout than any of our past 3 coaches (all of whom had much more negotiating leverage than Fickell).

You obviously understand The Art of the Deal

(02-17-2017 10:44 PM)ctipton Wrote:  UC, Fickell set to agree on $13.4M contract
Tom Groeschen , tgroeschen@enquirer.com Published 3:48 p.m. ET Feb. 17, 2017 | Updated 6 hours ago

Cincinnati Bearcats head football coach Luke Fickell addresses the media.
(Photo: The Enquirer/Kareem Elgazzar)

New University of Cincinnati football coach Luke Fickell is expected to have his six-year, $13.4 million contract approved by the University of Cincinnati Board of Trustees at its next meeting Tuesday

Fickell will make an average salary of $2.23 million, slightly more than the $2.2 million average of previous UC head coach Tommy Tuberville. Tuberville resigned this past December, after UC slipped to a 4-8 record in the 2016 season. Former Ohio State assistant coach Fickell was hired Dec. 10 by UC.

According to the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) between UC and Fickell, the coach will make a base salary of $1.9 million this year in his first Bearcats season. The salary will rise to $2 million in 2018, then $2.3 million in 2019. Then, Fickell will make $2.4 million each year from 2020-2022.

Fickell will earn a $250,000 bonus if UC plays in a New Year’s Day bowl game, and $75,000 for any bowl appearance.

Other bonuses include $50,000 each for an appearance in the Top 25 CFP (College Football Playoff) ranking, winning a conference regular season title and winning a conference championship game. Any bowl win will bring $25,000.

The deal includes buyout numbers for both parties. For instance, Fickell would owe $3.5 million to UC if he leaves before Dec. 31, 2017. That number would decrease annually, to a $750,000 payout by the sixth year of Fickell’s contract.

In turn, Fickell would be owed an $11 million buyout if UC terminates him before Dec. 1, 2017. That number also decreases annually, to a $1.2 million buyout by the sixth year of Fickell’s contract.

UC is scheduled to begin spring football practice March 6.

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/c.../98049780/

HE's evidently a better choice than TT was but the 1 year he took over to run O$U, THEY didn't do so well. Hoping things work out better here.

(02-18-2017 07:02 PM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  

(02-18-2017 05:51 PM)crex043 Wrote:  

(02-17-2017 11:53 PM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  Not a fan of the buyout clause.

Buyout for Termination of contract by university:
before 12/1/17: 11 million
before 12/1/18: 9.1
before 12/1/19: 7.1
before 12/1/20: 4.8
before 12/1/21: 2.4
before 12/1/22: 1.2

Buyout for Termination of contract by coach:
before 12/1/17: 3.5 million
before 12/1/18: 3.0
before 12/1/19: 2.5
before 12/1/20: 2.0
before 12/1/21: 1.5
before 12/1/22: 0.75

So that's a 2.4 million buyout if we fire him after 4 years like we did with Tubbs. That's pretty steep for a coach with a considerably lighter resume as a head coach than the last three people we hired (Kelly, Jones, and Tuberville).

You're right, we should have skipped Fickell and instead hired a lesser known, lower quality candidate who would be willing to accept a lower buyout.

This is the cost of being competitive in modern college football.

Oh come on. It's not like he had competing offers. He was turned down for the Pitt job 2 years ago and hasn't had another interview since then. His alternative for next year was to stay on at OSU as a coordinator making $754,500.

I think he's a good hire, and I understand giving him a salary commensurate with the job. But we had all the leverage in this negotiation, and the whole point of having leverage is to be able to win on the "small print" points of the deal. Yet we went ahead and gave him a bigger buyout than any of our past 3 coaches (all of whom had much more negotiating leverage than Fickell).

Did we have all the leverage? By most accounts, we had been turned down by both Brohm and Fleck at that point. What were the other names we were linked to? Jason Candle? Charlie Strong? Chuck Martin?

Also, if Fickell was our guy, was a top long-time coordinator at a top program, had experience in Ohio, and had a history of shying away from job offers, I would think he had some leverage too.

(02-18-2017 08:35 PM)bearcat54 Wrote:  

(02-17-2017 10:44 PM)ctipton Wrote:  UC, Fickell set to agree on $13.4M contract
Tom Groeschen , tgroeschen@enquirer.com Published 3:48 p.m. ET Feb. 17, 2017 | Updated 6 hours ago

Cincinnati Bearcats head football coach Luke Fickell addresses the media.
(Photo: The Enquirer/Kareem Elgazzar)

New University of Cincinnati football coach Luke Fickell is expected to have his six-year, $13.4 million contract approved by the University of Cincinnati Board of Trustees at its next meeting Tuesday

Fickell will make an average salary of $2.23 million, slightly more than the $2.2 million average of previous UC head coach Tommy Tuberville. Tuberville resigned this past December, after UC slipped to a 4-8 record in the 2016 season. Former Ohio State assistant coach Fickell was hired Dec. 10 by UC.

According to the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) between UC and Fickell, the coach will make a base salary of $1.9 million this year in his first Bearcats season. The salary will rise to $2 million in 2018, then $2.3 million in 2019. Then, Fickell will make $2.4 million each year from 2020-2022.

Fickell will earn a $250,000 bonus if UC plays in a New Year’s Day bowl game, and $75,000 for any bowl appearance.

Other bonuses include $50,000 each for an appearance in the Top 25 CFP (College Football Playoff) ranking, winning a conference regular season title and winning a conference championship game. Any bowl win will bring $25,000.

The deal includes buyout numbers for both parties. For instance, Fickell would owe $3.5 million to UC if he leaves before Dec. 31, 2017. That number would decrease annually, to a $750,000 payout by the sixth year of Fickell’s contract.

In turn, Fickell would be owed an $11 million buyout if UC terminates him before Dec. 1, 2017. That number also decreases annually, to a $1.2 million buyout by the sixth year of Fickell’s contract.

UC is scheduled to begin spring football practice March 6.

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/c.../98049780/

HE's evidently a better choice than TT was but the 1 year he took over to run O$U, THEY didn't do so well. Hoping things work out better here.

I don't think that is a fair way to judge him. OSU as your 'first gig' would be tough for anybody. How would Urban Meyer had done there if he didn't first have a chance to cut his teeth at places like BGSU and Utah, etc. Also, the program he took over was amidst the tatoo-gate and whatever else they had going on and I don't think it was the best environment/culture, which didn't help a guy who was taking over a blue blood program AND it was his first head coaching gig. I think some major players on the team were suspended for the first several games, etc.

I think we will get a good gauge of what he is or isn't as a head coach right here at UC.

He has already impressed the heck out of me as a recruiter and relationship builder in OH with the local high schools so he's already got that going for him as the Captain of UC's program and we haven't even played a game yet.

Additioanlly, he has hired some really good coaches...this may be the best staff we've ever had here.

Again, I know at the end of the day they have to put up W's but early on with recruiting, building pipelines/trust with OH high schools and hiring good coaches around him, he's earned an "A" in my book.

I have no idea how CLF will work himself out here. I think he has surrounded himself with good staff and recruiters. In the short time that he had, he brought in a class better than anything the CTT ever tried (?) to bring in. Maybe he will just completely **** himself here but I really don't think so. If his first few weeks here are any indication, I think he will do very well and I, for one, will be really rooting very hard for him. I really don't think this board should really think he can pull rabbits out of hats with what was left to him. Give him a couple classes and I think he will do very well.

(02-19-2017 09:20 AM)ctipton Wrote:  I have no idea how CLF will work himself out here. I think he has surrounded himself with good staff and recruiters. In the short time that he had, he brought in a class better than anything the CTT ever tried (?) to bring in. Maybe he will just completely **** himself here but I really don't think so. If his first few weeks here are any indication, I think he will do very well and I, for one, will be really rooting very hard for him. I really don't think this board should really think he can pull rabbits out of hats with what was left to him. Give him a couple classes and I think he will do very well.

I think this year will be similar to Butch Jones first year. We do not have an established qb and may not even have one in our system. I know we hope the osu transfer will fill the void, but keep in mind that it took a qb with a similar skill set and ranking(Quinton flowers) 12-15 games to get rolling. TT left the qb and oline in shambles. Clf hass immediately addressed these holes. I am in full support until he starts doing things wrong.