How new basketball coach can cash in at Fresno State. Here are his bonus incentives

Robert Kuwada
CRAIG KOHLRUSS/ckohlruss@fresnobee.com

Winning a national championship is both pinnacle and pipe dream for new Fresno State basketball coach Vance Walberg, who picks up a struggling program at one of the lowest points in a so-so and sometimes sordid history.

The Bulldogs have not finished at the .500 mark in Mountain West Conference play in five seasons, and won a total of 23 games the past two. Fan interest has tanked, with home attendance falling to 3,471 per game last season.

But if Walberg manages to elevate the Bulldogs to that level, he will be rewarded.

The bonus for winning a national championship is $250,000, according to an offer letter signed by Walberg and released on Tuesday by the university. That is by far the largest academic or performance-based bonus available on campus. Walberg signed an unconventional contract that runs for three years with an option for two more seasons at the sole discretion of the campus president.

Five years is fairly standard in college athletics, though a few basketball coaches in this hiring cycle have received six-year contracts, including Chris Holtmann at DePaul, Danny Sprinkle at Washington and David Riley at Washington State.

If Walberg were to max out the available academic and performance bonuses in any one season, his compensation would swell considerably. He has a base salary of $595,000 in the first year of the contract, $608,000 in the second and third years and an option at the sole discretion of the campus president for two additional years at $622,000. He also could earn as much as $475,000 in bonuses.

Sub in a spot in the NCAA Tournament First Four instead of a national title and the bonuses would top out at $250,000; a spot in the postseason National Invitation Tournament and it would be $240,000 and a NIT championship $255,000.

The most interesting bonus is tied to attendance at the Save Mart Center - it hits $55,000 if there are 175,000 tickets sold, based on a 16-game home schedule.

Here is the list:

NCAA Academic Progress Rate

  • above 935: $25,000

  • above 940: $30,000

  • above 950: $35,000

Team grade-point average

  • 2.5 to 2.599: $20,000

  • 2.6 to 2.699: $25,000

  • 2.7 to 2.799: $30,000

  • 2.8 and above: $35,000

Attendance at home games

  • 100,000 tickets sold: $25,000

  • 125,000 tickets sold: $35,000

  • 150,000 tickets sold: $45,000

  • 175,000 tickets sold: $55,000

Mountain West Conference

  • Regular-season co-champion: $35,000

  • Regular-season champion: $50,000

  • Tournament champion: $20,000

NCAA Tournament

  • First Four participant: $25,000

  • First Round participant: $35,000

  • Second round: $50,000

  • Sweet Sixteen: $75,000

  • Elite Eight: $100,000

  • Final Four: $150,000

  • Title game: $200,000

  • National championship: $250,000

Postseason NIT

  • Participant: $15,000

  • Final Four: $20,000

  • Championship: $30,000

Final national rankings

  • Top 25: $10,000

  • Top 10: $20,000

Coach of the Year

  • Conference: $10,000

  • NABC regional: $10,000

  • NABC national: $20,000

Only one bonus may be awarded in most categories - Walberg can collect a bonus if the conference and NABC regional or national coach of the year.

The offer letter is contingent on upon agreement to terms in a forthcoming Definite Term Appointment Letter and successful completion of the California State University background check process.

The offer letters also includes use of a courtesy vehicle through the Fresno State Athletic Corporation.

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