Winning pays dividends, even when you’re not actively coaching from the sidelines.
In the 2023 season, Jim Harbaugh, the head coach of Michigan football, coached precisely half of the team’s 12 regular-season games, as he was suspended for a total of six games. However, this doesn’t preclude him from receiving a substantial bonus for the team’s achievements in the Big Ten East and reaching the conference championship game.
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According to his contract with the university, Harbaugh is entitled to an additional $500,000 on top of his annual salary, irrespective of whether he coached all the games or not.
The contract stipulates that if the team attains specific performance goals and Harbaugh “remains employed as head coach at the time of the applicable game,” the bonus becomes valid. Furthermore, it asserts that Harbaugh “will have earned and fully vested in any of the performance payments” at the time the relevant game is played.
Crucially, there is no language in the contract requiring Harbaugh to be physically present on the sideline to qualify for the bonus, making it applicable even during a suspension.
When queried about the contract’s terms, Michigan affirmed its commitment to honoring the agreement, stating that they intend to fulfill the $500,000 bonus.
The payment is considered well-deserved for Harbaugh’s leadership, both on and off the field, contributing to the team’s success in meeting its performance goals.
