Colorado State will officially introduce Jim Mora as the team’s 25th head football coach Monday at Canvas Stadium, and the new leader of the Rams will be the highest-paid coach in program history.
Mora’s five-year contract with the Rams begins with a base salary of $2.4 million. The base will go up $100,000 every year — to $2.5 million in 2027, $2.6 million in 2028, $2.7 million in 2029 and $2.8 million in 2030.
Mora’s predecessor, Jay Norvell, earned $1.6 million in his first season with CSU and his salary, like Mora’s, rose by $100,000 each year.
Additionally, Mora will receive a $150,000 signing bonus to be paid within 100 days of his hire.
His term sheet also includes a $150,000 annual retention bonus if he remains in good standing on Feb. 1 of the year following each season of his contract.
Included in his contract are several bonuses based on wins and team success, and a buyout is also addressed.
The buyout clause in his contract says that if he is fired without just cause, CSU will pay 75% of his remaining contract. If he is fired for just cause, there is no financial liability for the school.
Buyout amounts if Mora leaves before his five-year contract is up are: $5 million in 2016; $4 million in 2027; $3 million in 2028; $2 million in 202; and $1 million in 2030.
In addition, Mora will have an assistant coach and support staff compensation pool of $5 million. Norvell’s compensation pool was $3 million.
The term sheet also says that CSU will be responsible for the $1.5 million buyout Mora owes to UConn.
As he attempts to turn CSU around from a 2-10 season, Mora has the opportunity to cash in even more with success.
If CSU wins six games in a season, he gets $25,000. That increases to $50,000 for seven wins, $100,000 for eight wins, $150,000 for nine wins, $225,000 for 10 wins, $325,000 for 11 wins and $400,000 for 12 wins.
If the Rams make it to the Pac-12 Conference championship game, he will get $75,000, and if CSU wins a conference championship game, he will get $100,000.
Should CSU make a non-College Football Playoff bowl game, Mora will get $50,000, and if the Rams win said bowl game, he would get $75,000.
Mora will also receive bonuses if the Rams qualify for the CFP. If the Rams appear in the round of 16, he would get $200,000; $250,000 if they make the quarterfinals; $300,000 if they make the semifinals; and $350,000 if they make it to the championship game.
If CSU wins the CFP championship game, Mora would get a $400,000 bonus. Those CFP bonuses are cumulative.
Also included in his contract are achievement bonuses not only for himself, but also for how the team does in the classroom and fan turnout at Canvas Stadium.
If Mora is named the conference coach of the year, he will get $25,000 and $150,000 for being named the national coach of the year.
If the Rams have a graduation success rate of 80% or better, he gets $50,000. If the teams Academic Progress Rating is greater than or equal to 950, he will get $75,000.
Should the Rams have a team GPA from 2.60-2.99, he gets $25,000 and $50,000 if it is equal to or more than 3.0.
If CSU finishes in the top 25 of the final CFP rankings, he gets $75,000 and if home attendance increases by 10% or more, he gets $25,000.