Ulm Coach - Bonus For Ticket Sales

[MeanGreen61]

Hitting ticket sales goal a $$$ plus for ULM basketball coach

ULM shows Early the money, with your help

By Michael Kern

mkern@thenewsstar.com

Bigger crowds next season could mean a bigger paycheck for ULM men’s basketball coach Orlando Early.

Early’s new contract extension has an incentive package tied directly to ticket revenues. That was one of many salary supplements in a contract extension approved by the University Louisiana System Board of Supervisors.

Starting next fall, Early will receive a bonus paid by the ULM Athletic Foundation that kicks in once the school exceeds $100,000 in total ticket revenues. Once ULM surpasses that threshold, Early will receive a supplement equal to 20 percent of every additional dollar earned.

For reference, the estimated revenue total by the athletic department for the 2006-07 season was roughly $80,000. However, attendance skyrocketed in the second half of the season, leading to expectations that revenues will be higher next year.

“We saw this as one way to compensate (Early) that reduces our exposure a little,” ULM athletic director Bobby Staub said. “If we do really well at the box office, then he benefits. If we don’t, then we don’t get hurt.”

Early’s annual salary will operate on an escalating scale. He will be paid $115,000 for this season, $125,000 for 2007-08, $130,000 for 2008-09, and $135,000 for 2009-10.

Early can earn additional on-court performance bonuses such as $3,000 for winning the Sun Belt Conference regular season championship, $5,000 for reaching the NCAA Tournament, and $5,000 for each victory in the NCAA Tournament.

By comparison, ULM football coach Charlie Weatherbie will earn $150,000 for the 2007 season, according to his contract extension approved by the ULS Board of Supervisors. The football coach will be paid $155,000 in 2008 and $160,000 in 2009.

Weatherbie’s contract incentives include $5,000 for finishing with a winning record, $5,000 for a share of the Sun Belt championship, $5,000 for a bowl invitation, and $10,000 for a bowl victory.

The football coach also receives use of a university-owned house as part of his compensation. Both coaches receive use of a vehicle provided by a local car dealership.

As part of their contracts, both coaches are required to participate in an appropriate number of nonconference “guarantee games” to help generate money for the athletic department.

Weatherbie can’t be asked to play more than three guarantee games unless mutually agreed upon by him and Staub. Early can’t be asked generate more than $150,000 worth of guarantee game contracts unless he and Staub both agree.

In addition, both coaches have incentives in their contract tied directly to academic performance, using the NCAA’s Academic Progress Rate grading scale.

Both coaches receive a salary supplement if their score exceeds 950 and larger bonuses if it exceeds 975 or reaches a perfect score of 1,000.

By contrast, if either team’s APR score drops below NCAA standards and results in penalties for the school, that coach in no longer entitled to any contract incentives until the penalties end.