New contracts make CSU coaches highest paid in MW

CSU is home to the highest paid football, men's basketball and volleyball coaches in the Mountain West thanks to new financial agreements that were announced Monday.

Football coach Jim McElwain, volleyball coach Tom Hilbert and women's basketball coach Ryun Williams all received five-year contract extensions and raises.

McElwain, who is entering his third season with Colorado State University, has signed a contract extension designed to keep him in Fort Collins through, at least, the 2018 season. It increases his base salary from $1.35 million a year to $1.5 million, with $150,000 in bonuses built in if the Rams have a passing Academic Progress Rate score and no major NCAA violations.

His base salary through the next five seasons will raise annually to $1.53 million, $1,560,600, $1,591,812 and $1,623,648, respectively.

An optional extension that could keep him through the 2023 season is included.

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Included in the contract is a clause that states if CSU is to receive an excess of $15 million in media rights in a year or becomes part of the Pacific 12, Southeastern, Big 12, Big Ten or Atlantic Coast conferences, McElwain will immediately have his base salary increase to $3 million.

The new contract also has an increased buyout. Should McElwain choose to leave CSU before 2018, he'd have to pay the university either $7.5 million or the amount equal to his salary for all years and months remaining on his contract (whichever is greater) within 30 days.

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"Colorado State University is a great place. The leadership here with (university president) Dr. (Tony) Frank and the board for (my wife) Karen and I, this is home," McElwain said. "The way I look at (the buyout) is the only chance we have is for Bill Gates hiring me.

"It's flattering and really positive that we know we have the support of this campus and this town and up and down the Front Range."

His new salary makes him the highest-paid coach in the Mountain West, passing Fresno State's Tim DeRuyter ($1.4 million).

McElwain led the Rams to an 8-6 record last season including a victory over Washington State in the New Mexico Bowl. It was the most wins CSU had tallied in a season since 2002 and first bowl appearance since 2008.

"That's good for us. I was worried about him leaving last year, honestly, but luckily we got him back and he got the extension," sophomore lineman Fred Zerblis said. "It eases our minds a little as players to let us know that he's here for the long haul."

CSU volleyball coach Tom Hilbert and women's basketball's Ryun Williams also received contract extensions. All deals were crafted jointly by former athletic director Jack Graham and university president Tony Frank.

Hilbert's contract, which was signed in January, locks him in with the Rams until 2018 and will earn him a base salary of $200,000, which ranks atop the Mountain West and makes him one of the 10 highest paid college volleyball coaches in the nation.

Added to his contract is a $1 million buyout, which didn't exist in his previous deal that was signed in 2000 and had him making $154,000 annually before bonuses. Bonuses in the new deal are 1/12th of his annual salary should CSU win the conference or reach the NCAA tournament, $15,000 for advancing to the Sweet 16, another $15,000 for the Final Four and $25,000 if the Rams win the national championship.

"With my new contract, I'm being paid as well as anyone within the Power 5 conferences is paying their volleyball coaches," Hilbert said. "The buyout in my contract is significant enough that any school that would want to hire me away would look at it and laugh and move on."

CSU went 28-2 and set a school record in winning percentage at .996 in volleyball last season, winning its fifth consecutive Mountain West championship and earning its 19th straight trip to the NCAA tournament.

Williams now makes a salary of $215,000 a year with an initial buyout of $1.075 million. After the first year, buyouts are determined by his base salary multiplied by how many years are remaining on the contract.

His deal lasts through the 2018-19 season and has bonuses of $25,000 for winning the Mountain West, $30,000 each for reaching the NCAA tournament, the Sweet 16 and Final Four ($90,000 maximum), and $50,000 for winning the national championship.

Williams led CSU (25-8) to a Mountain West regular season title in 2013-14 and a berth in the Women's National Invitational Tournament.

Men's basketball coach Larry Eustachy signed a new contract in 2013 that will pay him a guaranteed $928,200 during the upcoming season.

Follow sports columnist Matt L. Stephens at twitter.com/mattstephens and facebook.com/stephensreporting.