Should Urban Meyer remain Ohio State's head coach for the next five years, the university will now be contractually obligated to offer Meyer an administrative role within the athletic department.
As part of the contract addendum that was approved by the Board of Trustees' Talent and Compensation Committee on Thursday, "Ohio State will give Coach an opportunity to be employed at the University in an administrative role with duties related to public relations, fund raising, assisting sports administrators with professional development programing for assistant coaches, lecturing in the Masters of Coaching curriculum, or such or other different duties as mutually agreed upon with the Director of Athletics" should Meyer remain Ohio State's head coach on Jan. 31, 2023, the date to which his contract at Ohio State has now been extended.
That doesn't necessarily mean that Meyer will move into an administrative role after the next five seasons. He and the university could choose to extend his head coaching contract at any time in the next five years, just as they have with the new contract addendum. It does ensure, however, that Meyer will be afforded the opportunity to take on an administrative role within Ohio State's athletic department in the future, should he choose to do so, as long as he remains the Buckeyes' coach for at least the next five years.
As for the next five years, Meyer is set to make approximately $7.6 million for the 2018 season, including a $160,000 retention bonus to be paid if he is still the coach as of Jan. 31, 2019, with the potential to make additional bonus money – as already outlined in and unchanged from his previous contract – for winning the Big Ten East ($50,000), the Big Ten Championship Game ($100,000), participating in a New Year's Six bowl game ($200,000), making the semifinals ($250,000) or the final ($350,000) of the College Football Playoff and for winning Big Ten Coach of the Year ($50,000) or a national coach of the year award ($75,000).
With annual raises and an annual retention bonus of $160,000, Meyer is set to make an average of more than $8.4 million over the next five years.
The new addendum to Meyer's contract also includes new language establishing that Meyer "shall promptly report to Ohio State's Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Athletics any known violations of Ohio State's Sexual Misconduct Policy" and that both Meyer and the university "recognize the importance of the safe and responsible treatment of student-athletes. Coach shall cooperate with Ohio State and the (athletic director) to maintain an environment focused on student-athlete health, safety and welfare."
According to USA TODAY's Steve Berkowitz, such provisions "are becoming increasingly routine parts of coaching contracts, and similar language was included in Ohio State's recent agreement with men's basketball coach Chris Holtmann."
Should Meyer fail to promptly report any known violations of Ohio State's Sexual Misconduct Policy, the addendum stipulates that the university would have grounds to fire Meyer for cause.
The addendum also adds a stipulation that if Meyer "was involved in NCAA infractions that cause Ohio State to pay penalties to the NCAA," Meyer "shall reimburse Ohio State for such amounts Ohio State must pay to the NCAA."
Should Ohio State choose to terminate Meyer's contract early for any reason other than for cause, the university would owe Meyer a buyout of more than $38 million if before Jan. 31, 2019; more than $29 million if between Jan. 31, 2019 and Jan. 31, 2020; more than $21 million if between 2020 and 2021; approximately $14 million if between 2021 and 2022; and approximately $6.8 million if between 2022 and 2023.
The full addendum to Meyer's contract, as obtained by Eleven Warriors through a public records request, can be seen below.
