On Friday, the Arizona Board of Regents approved raises for Rich Rodriguez, Sean Miller and Greg Byrne, including a warm-and-fuzzy multimillion-dollar retention plan set by an unnamed Wildcat booster.
All three had their contracts extended through the end of the 2018-19 academic year.
Under the new terms, if they stay through the end of their contracts, Rodriguez will have a base salary of $1.9 million, Miller of $1.6 million and Byrne of $725,000, but incentives will boost those figures considerably. Miller made $2.64 million last season (with incentives), and Rodriguez made $2.25 million.
Miller said earlier this week he couldn't comment on the proposed contract because it hadn't been approved but did say "the support that my family has received from the first day we came to Tucson has been spectacular. We're excited to be here and hopefully for the longterm."
If the "longterm" is eight years or more, he'll be handsomely rewarded through the new retention plan. The booster's retention gift was valued at $17.68 million last month, all coming in the form of 500,000 shares of stock, according to the Arizona Daily Star. Miller and Rodriguez are said to get 35 percent of the stock. The catch is they cannot leave voluntarily before eight years.
"We have incredible, passionate fans," Miller said, speaking in general terms of the retention bonus. "We've also had families and single people who have stepped up for our athletic department to put us in a good place and for us to be competitive environment."
"Whether you like how it's gone or how it's going or not, to compete for a national championship and be on this great stage, there are things that are much different than they were when I first got here five years ago."
Another five years down the road they figure to be much different again. Extensions and new terms happen on nearly a yearly basis. Successful coaches and administrators become targets for other schools.
The retention bonus is one tool to help keep them in Tucson, but it's by no means a guarantee. If another school wants someone badly enough, they could trump the existing plan with an even better one. Earlier this year, rumors were that Louisville was interested in Rodriguez. It's not clear to what degree, but Byrne stepped forward to say Rodriguez "isn't going anywhere."
Rodriguez stayed put and got a raise. Byrne had to deal with the same thing years earlier when Maryland expressed interest in Miller. And as for Byrne, it's clear he's a young, up-and-coming athletic administrator. Locals fear he's headed to bigger and better things at some point.
Remember that the primary motivation for most highly competitive people isn't money -- it's a chance to win championships. The money will follow.
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