Bret Bielema Deal With Razorbacks Worth $3.2 Million Annually Over Six Years

Bret Bielema, via the University of Arkansas' RazorVision streaming video service, speaks at his first news conference as Razorbacks football coach.

New University of Arkansas football coach Bret Bielema has signed a letter of agreement that will pay him $3.2 million annually for six years.

Outlined in the 14-page document, posted in full at the end of this story, is a buyout for firing Bielema that starts at $12.8 million in the first year and drops to $3.2 million in year six.

Bielema, who will be introduced as coach at 4 p.m. Wednesday news conference at the Broyles Center in Fayetteville, would owe the UA between $3 million and $500,000 if he chooses to leave over the course of his contract.

The deal also includes a no-compete clause probibiting him from leaving for other Southeastern Conference schools.

Buyout totals drop by $500,000 annually.

Athletic and academic achievement incentives built into the contract for Bielema, who was earning $2.6 million annually at Wisconsin, could pay an additional $700,000. Included among the bonus options:

• A $350,000 payout for winning the national championship.
• A $300,000 payout for appearing in the national championship.
• A $200,000 payout for appearing in a semifinal playoff game (beginning in 2014)
• A $150,000 payout for appearing in a non-title BCS game
• A $100,000 payout for appearing in the Capital One or Cotton Bowls
• A $50,000 payout for any bowl game appearance
• A $25,000 payout for winning SEC Coach of the year
• A $25,000 payout for winning national coach of the year
• Up to $200,000 can be earned for academic achievements

Arkansas will also make arrangements to pay Wisconsin the $1 million buyout that Bielema owes for leaving the Badgers.

Bielema’s contract will easily make him the top-paid state employee in Arkansas. A fellow UA employee, men’s basketball coach Mike Anderson, will likely rank second. Anderson’s total compensation for the current fiscal year is more than $1.6 million.

Bielema, who comes to Arkansas after seven seasons with the Badgers, replaces John L. Smith, who was under a 10-month, $850,000 contract with Arkansas. Smith was hired in April to replace Bobby Petrino, who was fired for lying about the details of a motorcyle crash and hiring his mistress to a football staff position.

Petrino earned $3.56 million annually with the Razorbacks. He was fired for cause and owed none of the $18 million buyout in his contract.

Bielema was 68-24 at Wisconsin. His record included winning three consecutive BCS berths, guiding the Badgers to the Rose Bowl.

Bret Bielema Letter of Agreement – Arkansas