When it was announced that Randy Edsall would be moving on from UConn to take the head coaching gig at Maryland, there were more than a few people, including a pair of CFT bloggers, who wondered aloud “Really?”.
Not that Edsall isn’t a good coach -- he is, and he’s an even better guy -- but considering Maryland’s dilemma at the time of firing former coach Ralph Friedgen -- filling seats and creating buzz -- it felt very much a lateral hire for the Terps.
Well, suffice it to say Maryland didn’t feel that way then, and they certainly don’t feel that way now, as the details of Edsall’s contract have been released.
According to information obtained by the Baltimore Sun, Edsall will receive $2 million annually*over the next six years of his contract, roughly the same salary as Friedgen in his final year.
(*note: Maryland offered to pay Edsall’s $400,000 in “contract termination expenses” to UConn. Edsall has agreed to pay that amount, so he will make $1.6 million his first year)
Edsall is also in line to make the following bonuses:
- $100,000 for a 50 percent increase in luxury suite rentals for home games.
- $100,000 for a 25 percent increase in season ticket sales.
- $100,000 for an ACC Championship.
- Unspecified dollar amounts for academic achievements.
Maryland is standing by their goal of filling seats and luxury boxes, and they’re clearly willing to pay for it.
Edsall could very well be successful at College Park. Whether he can fill the stadium on a consistent basis like Maryland wants is still to be seen.
