The Next URI Men's Basketball Coach Will Likely Make 10 Times More Than the Governor of RI
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The Next URI Men's Basketball Coach Will Likely Make 10 Times More Than the Governor of RI
When Dan Hurley bolted from the University of Rhode Island for the University of Connecticut in 2018, after back-to-back NCAA tournament bids and a combined 51-18 record his final two years, URI decided to take the “cheap” route.
His replacement at Rhode Island, David Cox, signed a contract with a salary and incentives that totaled almost $700,000 annually and he could have even more if he had hit all the incentives.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTHurley earns a reported $2.75 million at UConn.
Cox was fired last week after a dismal season which saw the Rams win only three games from January 22 to the end of the season.
URI will be paying out a little more than one year to Cox— his base pay was $300,000 a year. The contract provided for plenty of other guarantees and incentives.
He received an additional $350,000 in payments, plus country club membership fees and a very significant auto allowance. The contract includes incentives for players' grades, post-season accomplishments and VIP tickets for Cox.
SEE THE PROVISIONS AND INCENTIVES BELOW
Now, the Rams are faced with paying significantly more for land Cox's replacement.
When URI built the on-campus Ryan Center, the goal was to take the program from mid-major land to an NCAA tournament regular.
The reality has been much different. The Ryan Center opened in 2002 and cost a reported $54 million.
In the twenty years since the Ryan Center was opened, the Rams have gone to two NCAA tournaments. In the 20 years before the building opened, the Rams went to five Big Dances.
Now, the Rams are in rebuild mode again -- and the attempt to go cheap and hire the assistant coach of the departing head coach has been a disaster formula that the URI hierarchy has repeated multiple times over the past few decades.
Each time the failed philosophy has set the program back years. Jack Kraft stepped down for health reasons and Claude English took over. Four years later, the Rams were 6-22 in the 1983-84 season.
After Jim Harrick led the Rams to the Elite 8, he left for Georgia and the Rams elevated assistant Jerry DeGregorio to head coach and he was 12-48 in two seasons.
And, then Cox ascended when Hurley departed.
The only successful promotion was Al Skinner getting the top position when Tom Penders left for the University of Texas. Skinner led the Rams to two NCAA tournament bids and two NIT quarterfinal performances, but there was a contract dispute and he left for Boston College.
As GoLocal reported on Friday, the names now under consideration include New Mexico head coach Richard Pitino. As a head coach at FIU, Minnesota, and New Mexico, he is 171-155. This past year, he was 12-18 in his first year leading New Mexico.
Pitino's 6-year deal at New Mexico is worth just shy of $5 million, with his first-year salary set at $775,000. After that, he will be paid $800,000 per season with numerous incentives, according to KOB4.
Other names being mentioned around Kingston to succeed Cox include Pat Skerry at Towson. He was 24-7 this year, but his career record is 171-171.
He has deep RI ties. He coached at both PC and URI.
In 2008-09, Providence advanced to the NIT with a 19-14 overall record and 10-8 BIG EAST mark. Skerry assisted with the Friars’ 2009 recruiting class, which was ranked No. 35 in the nation by Hoop Scoop.
Prior to his time with the Friars, Skerry spent three years as an assistant coach at Rhode Island. During his time at URI, Skerry gained national recognition and was named one of the top assistant coaches in the country in 2007 by Hoop Scoop. In 2008, Fox Sports.com went on to name Skerry the top mid-major assistant in the nation.
Another name is Archie Miller -- the former Dayton and Indiana coach, but he might be way outside a URI budget. Miller's $10.3 million buyout at Indiana was the 15th-richest in NCAA men's basketball, according to the IndyStar.
The salary of the Governor of the State of Rhode Island is just over $145,000 a year.
According to multiple sources involved in the URI program, the University and boosters expect that the total compensation budget for the next coach may reach $1.25 million to $1.5 million a season.
The question will be can the Rams find the coach that can turn the program from a once-a-decade NCAA tournament team to a regular contender and if they do, can they provide the financial resources to keep him.
Cox’s contract provisions state:
Gate Receipts
"The Coach will also receive, in addition to his Base Salary, the sum of $225,000.00 (Two Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand and no/100 Dollars) in each Contract Year as a guaranteed portion of the gate receipts for all home games administered by the URI Athletic Department. Said amount shall be paid in equal installments ( on the pay date closest to but not after July 15, October 15, January 15, and April 8, of each Contract Year. The first payment shall be on the pay date closest to but not after July 15, 2018."
Booster Bonus
"The Coach will also receive, in addition to his base salary, the sum of $125,000.00 (One Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand and no/100 Dollars) in each Contract Year to be paid in equal installments of $31,250.00 (on the pay date closest to but not after July 15, October 15, January 15, and April 8, of each Contract Year for his appearance and participation at Athletic events and functions reasonably scheduled and approved by the Director of Athletics. The first payment shall be on the pay date closest to but not after July 15, 2018."
Auto Bonus
"The University shall provide Coach with a motor vehicle stipend, in the amount of $12,000.00 (Twelve Thousand and no/100 Dollars) annually and payable in biweekly installments during the Term of this Agreement commencing on May 1, 2018, which motor vehicle is to be used by the Coach under the University's rules and regulations. Insurance and maintenance of the motor vehicle shall be the sole responsibility of Coach."
NCAA Tournament Bonuses
"The University shall pay to Coach a bonus, in addition to his Base Salary, in the amount of $20,000.00 (Twenty Thousand and no/100 Dollars), for each first, second, and third-round NCAA postseason tournament game in which the Team participates during the Term.
The University shall pay to Coach a bonus, in addition to his Base Salary, in the amount of $25,000.00 (Twenty-Five Thousand and no/100 Dollars), for each "Sweet 16"; "Elite 8"; "Final 4"; and "National Championship" NCAA postseason tournament game in which the Team participates during the Term."
NIT Bonus
"The University shall pay to the Coach a bonus, in addition to his Base Salary, in the amount of $5,000.00 (Five Thousand and no/100 Dollars) if the Team is selected and participates in the NIT post-season tournament (amount is on a "tournament" basis)."
Coach of the Year
"If the Coach is named the Atlantic 10 or successor conference (the "Conference") Coach of the Year (solo or shared), he will receive a one-time payment from the University of $5,000.00 (Five Thousand and no/100 Dollars) (for each Contract Year in which he achieves such award);
(b) If the Coach is named the NCAA National Coach of the Year, he will receive a one-time payment of $10,000.00 (Ten Thousand and no/100 Dollars) (for each Contract Year in which he achieves such award)."
Championships Pay
"If the Team earns the number one (1) seed in the Atlantic 10 or successor conference championship (the "Conference"), Coach will receive a one-time payment of $20,000.00 (Twenty-Thousand and no/100 Dollars) (for each Contract Year in which the Team earns the number one (1) seed);
If the Team wins the Conference Tournament Championship, the Coach will receive a one-time payment of $20,000.00 (Twenty-Thousand and no/100 Dollars) (for each Contract Year in which the Team wins such championship)."
Radio and TV
"Coach shall be paid bi-annually (payable on the pay dates closest to but not after 9/20 and 3/20, commencing on September 20, 2018) the sum of $25,000.00 (TwentyFive Thousand and no/100 Dollars) per Contract Year for his participation in the URI Men's Basketball radio program; and (b) in addition, Coach shall be paid bi-annually (payable on the pay dates closest to but not after 9/20 and 3/20, commencing on September 20, 2018) the sum of $25,000.00 (Twenty-Five Thousand and no/100 Dollars) per Contract Year for his participation in the URI Men's Basketball Television Show.
If Coach is available to participate in the said radio program and Television Show the University shall remain obligated to make the payments hereunder even if the radio program or Television Shows are canceled by the University."
Bonus Based on Revenue
"Coach shall be paid the sum of $5,000.00 (Five Thousand and no/100 Dollars) in any Contract Year of this Agreement that the gross revenue generated by the Men's Basketball Excellence Fund exceeds $500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand and no/100 Dollars)."
Season Ticket Bonus
"Coach shall be paid the sum of $10,000.00 (Ten Thousand and no/100 Dollars) in any Contract Year of this Agreement that the gross ticket revenue for the Team's home games at the Ryan Center or other venue included in the University's season ticket package exceeds $1,100,000.00 (One Million One Hundred Thousand and no/100 Dollars)."
GPA Bonus
"Coach shall be paid beginning academic year 2018-2019 the sum of $7,500.00 (Seven Thousand Five Hundred and no/100) for each Academic Year that the Team grade point average is no less than 2.8; or (b) the sum of $10,000.00 (Ten Thousand and no/100 Dollars) for each Academic Year that the Team grade point average is no less than 3.0, but not both."
Country Club
"The University will reimburse Coach for the actual costs of the reasonable dues and fees of a country club or beach club membership, (including initiation fees, monthly dues and food minimums) not to exceed the sum of $8,000.00 (Eight Thousand and no/100 Dollars) per Contract Year for the Coach through the Men's Basketball Excellence Fund."
VIP Tickets
"The Coach shall be entitled to receive a total of 20 VIP quality home game tickets for each game played at the Ryan Center. In addition, the University shall provide Coach with two (2) tickets to each session of the NCAA Men's Basketball "Final Four" in each Contract Year. Further, the University shall provide the Coach with two (2) parking passes for all University athletic events. In addition, the Coach shall receive 12 game tickets and each assistant coach and basketball administrative staff member shall receive 4 game tickets for Atlantic 10 Conference, NCAA and NIT Tournament games in which the Team participates. Game tickets above those set forth herein shall be paid by the person to whom they are provided.
Coach and all persons provided tickets hereunder shall be solely responsible for payment of any and all taxes, including penalties and interest, related to the value of said tickets, if any, and further agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the University, and its governing bodies, their respective employees and agents from any claim, demand, payment, loss or liability related in any way to the assessment or payment of said taxes, penalties and interest."
Academic Progress Bonus
"Coach shall be paid an Academic Progress Rate ("APR") bonus beginning at the end of the 2018-2019 academic year and each academic year thereafter of (i) $10,000.00 (Ten Thousand and no/100 Dollars) for achieving a single year APR of 1000; or (ii) $7,500.00 (Seven Thousand Five Hundred and no/100 Dollars) for achieving a single year APR of 990; or (iii) $5,000 (Five Thousand and no/100 Dollars) for achieving a single year APR of 980. It is understood and agreed that these bonus amounts are not cumulative."