FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema has signed a new letter of agreement that gives him a raise to $4 million for 2015 and a two-year extension that takes his deal through the 2020 season.
Bielema's deal, which increases by $100,000 each year to reach $4.5 million in the final year of the agreement, puts his salary in a tie for fourth with Ole Miss' Hugh Freeze and South Carolina's Steve Spurrier in the the ever-escalating wage scale for SEC football coaches. Bielema signed the letter of agreement, which averages $4.25 million per year, on Friday.
Bielema's previous salary of $3.2 million had fallen to 12th in the SEC, ahead of Mississippi State's Dan Mullen ($3 million) and Vanderbilt's Derek Mason, whose salary is not disclosed because of Vanderbilt's status as a private institution.
Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long said in an interview with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in December that he was "very pleased" with how Bielema and his staff emphasize discipline and accountability and their focus on academics and character.
"I like the way he's building the winner with those things in place," Long said. "We're certainly excited to have him here and pleased with his development of our team and look forward to the future years."
Bielema, 45, has led Arkansas to a 10-15 record in two years. The Razorbacks finished last season with three victories in their final four games, including consecutive shutouts of No. 17 LSU and No. 8 Ole Miss, which has some college football analysts saying the Razorbacks are on the brink of contention in the SEC West.
Bielema has reiterated many times his goal of leading Arkansas to its first SEC championship.
"Every day since we arrived in Fayetteville, we have worked with our coaches and student-athletes on building something special here at the University of Arkansas," Bielema said Saturday in the university release. "We have assembled another great staff and recruiting class to help us continue to move forward in the SEC West.
"My wife and I love Arkansas and the tremendous support the Razorbacks receive throughout the entire state. We are also appreciative of the unwavering support of Chancellor [Dave] Gearhart, Jeff Long and the entire Razorback nation as we all work together to give Arkansas something it has never had in the most competitive conference in the nation."
Bielema's new deal includes retention payments of $125,000, paid twice per year, while he remains with the Razorbacks. The UA portion of his 2015 salary is $3.25 million, with the Razorback Foundation paying $500,000 and the retention bonuses making up the final $250,000 to put the deal at $4 million.
Arkansas updated the buyout language in the new contract. The university would owe Bielema $15.4 million -- minus mitigation based on subsequent employment -- if he is fired any time between now and Dec. 31, 2017. The buyout drops to $11.7 million on Jan. 1, 2018, to $7.9 million on Jan. 1, 2019, and to $4 million on Jan. 1, 2020.
Bielema would owe the university $4 million if he chooses to leave between now and Dec. 31. His buyout drops to $3 million for 2016, $2 million in 2017, $1 million in 2018, $500,000 in 2019, and $250,000 in 2020.
The contract includes a wide variety of incentives for athletic and academic achievements, including $150,000 for appearing in one of the New Year's six bowl games, $100,000 for appearing in the SEC Championship Game, $200,000 for appearing in a College Football Playoff (CFP) semifinal game, $300,000 for appearing in the CFP championship game and $450,000 for winning the CFP national championship.
It has been a productive three months for Arkansas football. Following the high-profile shutouts -- 17-0 vs. LSU and 30-0 over Ole Miss on consecutive Saturdays at Reynolds Razorback Stadium -- the Razorbacks dismantled their former archrival Texas in the Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium in Houston to improve to 2-0 in bowls against the Longhorns.
Bielema last month retained defensive coordinator Robb Smith, who agreed to a $750,000 contract with built-in raises for the following two seasons. Under Smith's guidance, Arkansas had the most improved defense in the SEC, dropping its points allowed per game from 32.3 to 19.2, an improvement of 11.9 per game which ranked seventh in the country.
Bielema was also able to solidify the rest of his staff, at least until Saturday's report from SI.com that running backs coach Joel Thomas will reportedly leave to take the same job with the New Orleans Saints.
Arkansas also signed a consensus top 25 class last Wednesday, its first since 2011, that featured seven four-star signees, the most in program history.
On the academic side, the football team had a program-record 32 players named to the SEC All-Academic team last fall while posting its highest grade-point average for a semester.
Sports on 02/08/2015