According to the Herald-Leader, it would actually cost the University of Kentucky just under $18 million to prematurely cut ties with football coach Mark Stoops and his staff.
Stoops and staff have lucrative contracts that run through next season and beyond.
Here are details:
All of Stoops’ assistant coaches except one have contracts guaranteed through June 30, 2018. Assistant head coach for offense Eddie Gran is the exception; his deal runs through June 30, 2019.
So if Kentucky removed Stoops and assistants following the current season, the university could be on the hook for some $17.898 million in payouts.
(For the assistants, the buyout figures could be mitigated if they subsequently took other jobs, releasing UK from having to pay some or all of the contract guarantees).
UK’s steep financial commitment to Stoops was cemented on Oct. 29, 2014, when Kentucky Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart signed the then-second-year football coach to a six-year, $21.5 million contract extension.
