Details emerge in contract for new Wichita State women’s basketball coach Terry Nooner

Details have emerged in the agreement between Terry Nooner and Wichita State that will make him a first-time head coach at the Division I level and new leader of the Shocker women’s basketball team.

The complete contract has yet to be finalized, but The Eagle obtained the memorandum of understanding offered by WSU athletic director Kevin Saal and signed by Nooner on April 17 through an open records request. The five-page document acts as a placeholder and stipulates both parties must engage in good faith efforts to finalize a contract before July 1.

Here are the main takeaways from Nooner’s contract at WSU:

How much is Nooner making at Wichita State?

Nooner and WSU agreed to a five-year contract that is slated to pay the coach a little more than $1.7 million — without performance bonuses — over the life of the contract, which runs through the 2027-28 season. Nooner’s annual salary averages to $341,000.

The contract is structured similarly by Saal to the one he extended to men’s basketball coach Paul Mills last month.

Nooner’s base salary begins at $270,000 in his first season and increases by $10,000 each year thereafter, rising to $310,000 guaranteed compensation for the 2027-28 season. This adds up to $1.45 million over five years in base pay, but that’s not all that is coming Nooner’s way.

Just like in Mills’ MOU, there is an “other” compensation section with a variety of annual stipends — $5,000 apiece for radio, TV and official appearances, then another $5,000 for “other” appearances. Add in a $10,000 stipend for club membership and Nooner is earning an extra $30,000 for each year of his contract, which totals $150,000 over five years.

Beginning after his second season, Nooner will begin to earn a retention bonus every July 1 he remains the head coach at WSU. He will earn an additional $20,000 in 2025, an extra $35,000 in 2026 and a bonus $50,000 in 2027.

Add up the base salary, other compensation and retention bonuses and Nooner will earn at least $300,000 his first year, $310,000 his second year, $340,000 his third year, $365,000 his fourth year and $390,000 his fifth year.

Nooner can earn an automatic contract extension

Just like Saal offered Mills, WSU is also giving Nooner the opportunity to earn a one-time automatic one-year extension at any point during his contract if the Shockers win at least 25 games, win at least a share of a regular-season American Athletic Conference championship or reach the NCAA Tournament through an at-large bid. Nooner’s base salary would be set to $320,000 with another $30,000 coming in stipends if he earns the automatic extension into the 2028-29 season.

What is the buyout information on Nooner’s contract?

The buyout clause for both WSU and Nooner is fairly straightforward: if each side decides to end the contract, they owe the other side 50% of whatever is remaining for guaranteed and other compensation.

For example, if Nooner leaves for another job after the 2024-25 season, which would be his second year, he would owe WSU half of the remaining base salary ($900,000) and other compensation ($90,000) on the contract, which would come out to $495,000. If he leaves after the 2025-26 season, his third year, Nooner would owe WSU $335,000.

The same figures would apply if WSU fires Nooner without cause. If Nooner is fired without cause, he has an “affirmative obligation” to obtain future employment with his salary at his subsequent employer reducing WSU’s buyout payment dollar-for-dollar.

WSU can fire Nooner with cause for a list of terms and conditions that include, but are not limited to any insubordinate, unprofessional or insulting behavior towards anyone associated with WSU, conduct that constitutes a Level I or II NCAA violation, failure to comply with the terms of the contract or endangering the health and welfare of any other person.

What are the incentives in Nooner’s contract?

Just like Mills, Nooner has incentives to schedule aggressively with a $5,000 bonus if WSU’s non-conference strength of schedule finishes top-50 at the end of the season or a $2,500 bonus if it finishes top-100.

He would also collect a $10,000 bonus if WSU finishes top-40 in the end-of-season NET rankings or $5,000 if WSU is inside the top-50. Nooner would cash in on a $5,000 bonus for a 20-win season or a $15,000 bonus for a 22-win season, plus an extra $5,000 for a WNIT appearance.

A 25-win season, AAC regular-season title or NCAA Tournament at-large berth would earn Nooner an automatic one-year contract extension. If he wins the AAC Coach of the Year, he earns $10,000 and if he wins the National Coach of the Year, he earns $25,000.

He would earn $25,000 if WSU wins a game in the NCAA Tournament, a total of $55,000 for a Sweet 16 run, a total of $95,000 for an Elite Eight run, a total of $145,000 for a Final Four run, a total of $220,000 for a national title game appearance and a total of $320,000 for an NCAA national championship.

If the women’s basketball team has an academic progress rate cohort score of 975 or an annual grade-point average of 3.1, Nooner receives $5,000.

Nooner will be paid out his bonuses by May 1 of each contract year.

What are the benefits in the contract?

WSU is paying up to $20,000 to cover moving and relocation expenses for Nooner to move his family from Lawrence to Wichita.

Nooner can choose to either pick a car from WSU’s courtesy vehicle program or receive an annual automobile stipend of $7,200.

He is entitled to the same insurance and leave benefits as other full-time employees in Wichita State’s athletic department.

Nooner will also receive 16 tickets in the lower bowl to each regular-season home women’s basketball game at Koch Arena and four tickets to any other WSU sporting event. There is also a clause that stipulates Nooner’s wife and three children can travel to all away games with the team on WSU’s dime.