Compensation amounts are based on the coaches’ contract year that covers, or covered, the 2019-2020 college baseball season. The employment agreements analyzed are for a school’s head baseball coach as of April 1, 2020.

A not available (N/A) in the database denotes schools that are private, not subject to a state or federal open records request or which do not field a school-sponsored baseball team (e.g., the University of Colorado).

The following defined compensation components are included in the database and calculated based on the cost to the employer or third party obligor rather than the value to the coach:

Base Salary:  Includes university and university-affiliated base salary only.   Salaries reported do not take into account deductions that have, or may, occur because of state government furlough actions or voluntary salary reductions.

Other Compensation:  Compensation from the university or a university affiliated entity for media, public relations, endorsements, guaranteed summer camp payments, payments based on ticket revenue when available, personal expense accounts (i.e. expenses taxable to the employee), housing allowances, etc.  Deferred compensation and retention payments are included on a pro rata basis if the only circumstances in which the payment would be forfeited are (A) the University terminates the coach’s employment for cause, and/or (B) if the Coach resigns from the University.

Outside Income:  Separate, third party (i.e., non-university related entities as opposed to athletic corporations) contracts, and/or annual athletically related income reports for the most recent year available other than those related to university provided Base Salary or Other Compensation.  In 2016, the NCAA repealed Bylaw 11.2.2.1 (mandatory reporting of outside income).  In 2018, following the wake of the federal investigation into corruption on college basketball, the NCAA reinstated the requirement that coaches disclose athletically related outside income.  The disclosure requirement does not require public disclosure of outside income – just that it be reported to the university president or chancellor.  Consequently, some schools make this information available and others do not.   As such, certain coaches may have received outside income that is not included in our determination of Total Compensation.

Total Compensation:  The aggregate sum of items described above.  Value of perquisites such as game tickets, luxury suites, cars, family travel, country club memberships and standard university benefits such as health care are not included.  Baseball contracts frequently include allowances for equipment.  These allowances were considered perquisites, rather than Outside Income, for purposes of this survey.

Maximum Bonus:  The greatest amount that can be received if the team or coach meets prescribed on-field performance goals (e.g., win totals, NCAA tournament appearances, conference and/or national championships, coach of the year awards, fundraising, etc.), academic (e.g., APR),  administrative (e.g., ticket sales) and/or player conduct goals.