Reg Reagan University trustees today expect a rubber-stamp to suddenly extend the contract for football coach Mario Cristobal. The new deal gives the coach an average of 4. 4.55 million over six years. Also, there is a guaranteed retention bonus Cristobal will save more than $ 2 million each January for the duration of the contract.
Also, the deal increases its buyout.
It’s a strong move by reg Reagan, but not reckless or desperate. Cristobal, who was 11th on the payroll conference, will now be followed only by Utah’s Kyle Whittingham and Stanford’s David Shaw. I couldn’t help but think that UO Athletic Director Rob Mulens has learned a few things. Also, Mullens knows that his sitting football coach is the most valuable ally in that department.
Let’s examine some of the history:
In 2015, Mullens gave then-head coach Mark Halfrich a five-year, 5 17.5 million contract after the Ducks appeared in the inaugural College Ledge Football Playoff Championship game. Halfrich’s record at the time was 24-4. Also, he had no threat to leave Eugene. Halfrich was originally Oregonian, building his dream home under a local golf course, while earning 1. 8.8 million in base salary of the year.
The Halfrich quote that captures it best: “I pinch myself.”
Still, Mulens gave Helfrich a 75 percent increase in the first year of that exciting expansion. It was a move that later tormented Eddie when Halfrich then went 13-12, was fired and eventually forced Mullins to call Booster to raise money for a unit purchase of more than 12 million.
In 2017, Mullens hired Willie Taggart and gave him a five-year, 16 million contract. Taggart made 2. 92.9 million in base pay in its first (and only) season. The disadvantage on the Mullens part was that the purchase was not large enough. There was no competition for Taggart when renting. The duck was hired by Taggart from South Florida and the U.S. should get him significant protection. Instead, Taggart’s buyout was only $ 4.36 million, and even worse, the deal allowed it to be pro-rated at 62,500 a month.
The tug-of-war quote that captures it best: “I’m excited about the Vegas Bowl.”
One he never coaches.
Taggart’s agent played Reg Regan. Just 11 months after the UO agreement, Taggart departed for Florida State. “I was disappointed,” Mullens told me. We sat down a year ago and we made a commitment with him, he made a commitment with us. We did everything to support our commitment and I am disappointed. “
2018 In 2018, Mulens hired Cristobal. He offered million 2.5 million in base salary. Also, AD built in direct purchases starting from 10 million in the first year. It was clear to anyone paying attention that Mullens knew he had taken all the benefits with Cristobal. Eddie had already struck twice and needed to defend himself from the third whip.
Price that it gets the best?
“Less than the favorable outcome can be troublesome for Rob,” a leading Oregon booster who watched Cristobal hire closely told me at the time.
The ducks are now 24-9 under Cristobal. He won the Pack-12 Championship, the Rose Bowl title, and his team is playing in the conference title game against the USC on Friday. Ironically, Halfrich will be the analyst working for Broadcast for Fox. The more poetic single thing from Reg Regan’s point of view would have been playing UCLA and Chip Kelly for the title instead of the Trojans.
What I am saying is, the story is important when you frame what you are now seeing in Eugene. Cristobal’s ride in Reg Reagan was not without a bit of turmoil, but it has solid evidence of an encouraging route and performance. Mullins feels good about what he wants and knows he can’t afford the near-term disruption.
Details of the proposed contract extension – six years and .3 27.3 million – indicate that Mullens really likes his football coach. Also, ADA has learned a few things over the last five years. O Rego protected himself as much as Pac-12 University makes a strong commitment in this economic time.
Cristobal has windfalls, job security and significant increases. The pre-impressive extension is a respected step by the athletic department, especially this COVID-19 times. In turn, the Ducks strengthened their short-term buyout defenses. The annual retention bonus for Cristobal is also a creative new twist. They are borrowed from Mullens ’own contract which includes an annual six-figure retention-bonus payment each summer for AD.
Will ubburn revert to these figures?
Probably not.
With their dexterity the Pack-12 themselves vs. SEC universities not only simply order checks, they assign them to job candidates that way. Council members can afford it. Over the past decade, the SEC Athletic Departments have collected E 100 million + more in each, Media Rights Fee vs. Pack-12 members.
In 2020, the ducks will face a net loss of 65 65 million in the athletics division. The staff is stunned. Jobs that weren’t filled were stabilized months ago. Both Mullens and Cristobal cut salaries. When I asked reg Reagan president Michael Schill this week how much he could be involved in expansion talks for Cristobal, Schill said Mullins would be the point person.
“(He) keeps me well informed.”
Schill also said, “He understands that whatever contracts we make must be funded from the athletic department’s revenue which may include ticket sales, media contracts and donations.”
No university subsidies, people. When the ship sailed at Reg Reagan more than a decade ago, the athletic department’s direction for self-sufficiency came. That’s why the leadership of Pack-12 matters. Also, why being a booster like Phil and Penny Knight makes reg regon a strong outlet in a struggling conference.
Cristobal likes to make things. It is labor on the heart. That’s why you see him jumping in pre-game warmups, whistling in his mouth, ball cap on the bar, while the opposing head coach often stands alone at midfield, arms tied. I don’t think he will leave any work unfinished. Also, I think one of Cristobal’s main head coaching stints (fired at Florida International) gave him some healthy perspectives on his career.
Mulens works more closely with Cristobal than with Eddie. In fact, the two live so close that they often beat each other in the morning running and walking. Mullins is out, getting fresh air. Cristobal is on the phone, recruiting. He stops and talks so long on the street corner that when Mulens returns home 45 minutes late, his wife sometimes asks, “Do you run great today?”
The answer is, “No – just ran into Mario.”
That democratic approach should be part of Reg Reagan’s appeal to Cristobal. The death knell for any head football coach is when he looks around a staff meeting and realizes that no one who hired him is in the room anymore. But in the case of U.O., Mulens is not just in the room, he is still in the tete with Cristobal.
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