Jan. 23, 2008

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - New Nebraska football coach Bo Pelini signed a five-year contract that pays $1.1 million a year, and he can earn significant bonuses for his players' achievements on the field and in the classroom.

Terms of the contract were announced Wednesday, more than seven weeks after athletic director Tom Osborne hired Pelini.

The first-time head coach will earn significantly less in base pay than former coach Bill Callahan, who made $1.75 million a year. And Pelini might not have the same multimillion-dollar buyout as Callahan if he's fired.

"It has been a very simple, straightforward process," said Pelini, who'll rank seventh among Big 12 coaches in salary. "Coach Osborne and I have been on the same page throughout the process, and it is good to have the contract finalized. I appreciate the support and commitment the administration at Nebraska has made to me and my staff, and I look forward to working with them in the coming years."

Osborne, who hired Pelini Dec. 2, said finalizing the contract was delayed because Pelini coordinated LSU's defense in the BCS title game against Ohio State and had to organize recruiting for Nebraska.

"We knew all along that this contract would take until at least mid-January to get everything done," Osborne said. "We're very pleased with the process. There were no protracted negotiations and no agents. Everything went smoothly."

The contract runs through Dec. 31, 2012. The university has the option, after the 2009 season, to give Pelini a two-year extension.

Pelini's bonus incentives call for him to earn an additional $800,000 if the Cornhuskers win the national championship. He would earn $150,000 for appearing in the Big 12 championship game; $250,000 for winning the conference title; $150,000 for appearing in the Bowl Championship Series title game or its comparable successor; and $250,000 for winning the BCS title game.

Pelini will be paid an extra $125,000 if the football program's graduation rate is equal to or greater than that of the general student body at Nebraska.

On top of that, Pelini can earn bonuses based on the program's Academic Performance Rating, which the NCAA uses to measure athletes' progress toward graduation. The NCAA's minimum allowable score is 925. Programs with a score under 925 are subject to NCAA sanctions, such as scholarship reductions.

Pelini would get $25,000 for an APR of 930 or higher, $75,000 for 940 or higher and $125,000 for 950 or higher.

If Pelini resigns to take a college or pro coaching job, the university would be paid varying amounts in damages depending on when he leaves. It would cost Pelini or his next employer $1 million for him to leave in 2008, $750,000 in 2009, $500,000 in 2010 and $250,000 after that.