Chris Klieman’s massive new Kansas State contract includes many lucrative bonuses

Kansas State football coach Chris Klieman has signed a new contract with the Wildcats that is worth $44 million over the next eight seasons.

Here are all the important numbers you need to know about the lucrative deal, including his yearly salary, his buyout figures and the potential for bonuses until the arrangement expires after the 2030 season.

Salary breakdown

Klieman is set to earn $4.5 million in salary during the 2023 season, but that number will escalate throughout his deal until he maxes out his salary at $6.5 million in 2030.

The Wildcats agreed to pay Klieman’s salary in two different ways each year. The bulk of Klieman’s salary will go directly to him, but $1.2 million will go to a LLC created by Klieman.

So he will technically only earn $3.3 million in salary next season, with another $1.2 million going to his LLC. Add it all up, and here is the year-by-year salary breakdown:

• $4.5 million in 2023

• $5 million in 2024

• $5.25 million in 2025

• $5.5 million in 2026

• $5.5 million in 2027

• $5.75 million in 2028

• $6 million in 2029

• $6.5 million in 2030

How Klieman can trigger an automatic extension

One of the best perks about Klieman’s old contract with K-State was that he could automatically trigger a one-year extension on his contract every time he led the Wildcats to eight wins and a bowl game in the same season.

Any time that happened, he was rewarded with a one-year extension that matched his max salary.

The same clause remains in his new contract until 2025, meaning that any time the Wildcats win eight games over the next three seasons Klieman will be rewarded with an extra year on his contract worth $6.5 million.

Klieman can also earn a retention bonus of $250,000 if he remains employed at K-State on March 1, 2024.

Other bonuses

Klieman can also boost his yearly payout by reaching certain performance-based goals.

Some of them include $100,000 for a third place finish in the Big 12 standings, $150,000 for a second-place finish or $250,000 for ending up in first.

Klieman will be rewarded $100,000 any time he leads K-State to a Big 12 championship game and $200,000 every time the Wildcats win while there.

For bowls, Klieman can earn $50,000 for simply winning six games. A larger bonus of $150,000 comes into play for a New Year’s Six bowl appearance and $250,000 for qualifying for the playoff.

A national championship would earn him a bonus of $1 million.

If Klieman is named Big 12 Coach of the Year, that is worth $25,000. National coach of the year is $50,000.

A top 25 finish is worth $25,000 and a top 10 finish can net Klieman $50,000.

One disclaimer mentioned in his contract: Klieman is not eligible for any bonus if K-State is ruled ineligible for the postseason.

Buyout numbers

Should Klieman choose to terminate his contract with K-State and leave for another job, he would owe K-State as much as $6 million depending on timing.

With five or more years remaining on his contract, the buyout is $6 million.

That number drops to $3 million if there are between two and four years remaining.

If there are less than two years remaining on his deal, the buyout drops all the way to zero.

Interestingly, if school president Richard Linton or athletic director Gene Taylor is no longer employed at K-State then Klieman may terminate his contract for just $1 million at any point before his buyout drops to zero.

K-State would owe Klieman a much larger buyout if it decides to terminate him without cause.

Here is the breakdown of those numbers.

With seven years remaining: $29.6 million. With six years remaining: $25.9 million. With five years remaining: $21.2 million. With four years remaining: $17.8 million. With three years remaining: $13.7 million. With two years remaining: $9.4 million. With one year remaining: remaining salary of $6.5 million or less.

Fringe benefits

Klieman will also benefit from $15,000 a year for a vehicle, golfing privileges at Colbert Hills Golf Course, a full membership to Manhattan Country Club, tickets to K-State sporting events and up to 18 hours of private airline use per contract year.