We Applaud "WKU Football Coach Willie Taggart's Contract Extension Through 2019", And His Doubled Pay From $225, 000 To $475,000.

Looking inside Taggart's new contract
By Brad Stephens

Head Coach Willie Taggart's new contract calls for him to earn an annual base salary of $475,000 through 2019, but the second-year WKU coach could make more if he reaches certain benchmarks set forth by the deal.

Any season with eight regular season wins triggers a 15 percent base salary increase for Taggart, and any eight-win regular seasons in subsequent years will result in an additional five percent raise.

Taggart will also have the following annual incentive bonuses:

- Winning a Sun Belt Conference Championship (one month salary and one month salary for each assistant coach).

- Reaching a Bowl Championship Series bowl (two month salary and two month salary for each assistant coach).

- Sun Belt coach of the year ($10,000).

- National coach of the year ($10,000).

- Team semester grade point average of 3.0 or higher ($5,000 each semester).

- Season ticket sales of 10,000 per year ($10,000 per year).



Taggart's salary compared to the rest of the Sun Belt Conference head coaches (2011 salaries reported by USA Today)

- Rick Stockstill, Middle Tennessee State: $589,405

- Dan McCarney, North Texas: $545,000

- Mario Cristobal, Florida International: $497,183

- Willie Taggart, WKU: $475,000

- Carl Pelini, Florida Atlantic: $450,000

- Mark Hudspeth, Louisiana-Lafayette: $361,000 (currently negotiating a new contract).

- Larry Blakeney, Troy: $381,000

- Todd Berry, Louisiana-Monroe: $225,000



Taggart's salary compared to other prominent WKU employees

- Willie Taggart, Head Football Coach, $475,000

- Gary Ransdell, School President, $361:104

- Ken McDonald. Head Men's Basketball Coach: $257,783

- Gordon Emslie, Provost and VP of Academic Affairs: $213,012

- Gordon Baylis, VP for Research: $201,012

- Kathryn Costello, VP Development and Alumni Relations: $200,004

- Ross Bjork, Athletics Director: $186,012

- Robert Owen, VP of Information Technology: $146,892

- Katherine Mead, VP for Finance and Administration: $141,948

- Mary Taylor Cowles, Head Women's Basketball Coach: $139,740

- Robin Taylor, VP for Public Affairs: $137,520

- John Osborne, VP for Campus Services and Facilities: $127,968

- Howard Bailey, VP for Student Affairs: $126,384

Editor's note: You can read more here.