MANHATTAN, Kan. — Chris Klieman will be paid nearly $16.9 million over six years to coach Kansas State's football team, including $88,400 for the remainder of 2018.
Those details, plus the perks and bonuses Klieman will receive for jumping from Division I FCS North Dakota State to Football Bowl Subdivision Kansas State, were revealed Wednesday when the coach's contract was made public by the Wildcat athletic department.
Klieman, who has coached the Bison since 2013, was formally introduced as the Kansas State coach at a press conference at the Vanier Football Complex at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
Klieman will be paid $88,400 for the rest of 2018, as he continues to coach NDSU as long as the Bison stay alive in the FCS playoffs. His salary jumps to $2.3 million in 2019; $2.5 million in 2020; $2.7 million in 2021; $2.9 million in 2022; $3.1 million in 2023; and $3.3 million in 2024. That brings the total to $16,888,400.
Klieman made $457,000 at NDSU last year, including salary and bonuses. He would make about $475,000 in 2018 if he reaches all the bonuses in his contract, including winning a national championship.
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Klieman stands to make more money at Kansas State through incentive bonuses.
He would receive a bonus of $50,000 if the Wildcats finish in third place, solely or tied, in the Big 12; $75,000 if they finish second; and $100,000 if they win the conference championship.
Klieman would also receive $50,000 if Kansas State wins six regular-season games and is selected for any postseason bowl game; $100,000 if the Wildcats play in a College Football Playoff bowl (e.g., the Sugar Bowl); $175,000 if Kansas State plays in a CFP semfinal game; $250,000 for a berth in the CFP national championship game; and $350,000 if Kansas State wins the national championship game.
Individual awards would net Klieman bonuses, too. He'd make $25,000 as Big 12 Coach of the Year and $50,000 if he's selected for one or more of the following honors: Walter Camp, Eddie Robinson or Bear Bryant national coach of the year awards.
A Top 25 ranking in the final Associated Press or CFP rankings would be worth $25,000. He'd get a $50,000 bonus with a Top 10 ranking in either poll.
All told, Klieman would make an additional $575,000 in a year if he maximized every bonus.
Klieman's contract also includes a number fringe benefits, including group insurance and retirement programs offered by Kansas State.
He also gets a $15,000 per year vehicle stipend and a $4,000 annual stipend to cover insurance on the vehicles.
Klieman gets the use of a suite at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, including 12 football game tickets and suite passes. Use of the suite includes paid catering for the suite. He also will receive eight football season tickets in the general stadium.
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"All tickets are to promote the University and the football program and/or Athletics Department," the contract states.
Klieman also receives six men's basketball season tickets, six women's basketball season tickets and a full membership to Manhattan Country Club (including golfing privileges and the use of a golf cart).
The contract also allows Klieman's wife and children to travel with him for "business or team travel purposes."
"As long as Coach has prior written approval from the Athletic Director or his designee for such travel, KSA (Kansas State Athletics) will provide such travel expenses for Coach's spouse. Coach's children may also travel with the football team on team plane and bus charters at KSA expense," the contract says.
The contract also includes buyout clauses if Klieman is terminated or leaves for another job.
Klieman will be paid $6 million if he is fired without cause prior to Jan. 1, 2021; $4 million before Jan. 1, 2022; $3 million prior to Jan. 1, 2023; and the sum of $2 million or the sum of the total remaining base salary, whichever is less, if he is terminated before Dec. 31, 2024. If Klieman found another college or professional coaching job four years or less before Dec. 31, 2024, the buyout would be offset dollar-for-dollar by the salary of the new job.
If Klieman terminates the contract, he'd pay Kansas State $3 million if he terminated before Jan. 1, 2021; $2 million prior to Jan. 1, 2022; $1.5 million before Jan. 1, 2023; and $1 million before Dec. 31, 2023.
Kansas State will reimburse Klieman for the buyout of his NDSU contract, which was $150,000.
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