How much Wichita State is paying new baseball coach Brian Green: Contract details

Details have emerged in the contract offer Wichita State made to lure baseball head coach Brian Green away from Washington State.

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 Green on June 4 through an open records request.

Here is what to know from Green’s contract at WSU:

How much money is Green making at Wichita State?

Green and WSU agreed to a five-year contract that is slated to pay the coach nearly $2.2 million — before performance bonuses — over the life of the contract, which runs through the 2028 season.

That comes out to an average annual salary of $437,000 for Green, which is a slight increase from what WSU was paying previous head coach Eric Wedge ($410,000).

Green’s base salary begins at $375,000 in his first season and increases by $10,000 every year, then remains flat at $405,000 in his final season. Just like Saal’s contracts with men’s basketball coach Paul Mills and women’s basketball coach Terry Nooner, Green is also due for “other” compensation with a variety of stipends — $5,000 apiece for radio, TV, official and other appearances. Add in a $12,000 stipend for a club membership and Green is earning an extra $32,000 each year of his contract, which totals $160,000 over five years.

Beginning after his second season, Green will earn a retention bonus every July 1 he remains the head coach at WSU. He will earn an additional $15,000 in 2025, $20,000 in 2026 and $25,000 in 2027.

Add up the base salary, other compensation and retention bonuses and Green will earn at least $407,000 his first year, $417,000 his second year, $442,000 his third year, $457,000 his fourth year and $462,000 his fifth year.

Green can earn an automatic contract extension

Just like Saal offered Mills and Nooner, Green has the chance to earn a one-time automatic one-year contract extension at any point during his contract if the Shockers win at least 45 regular-season games, win at least a share of the regular-season conference championship or reach the NCAA Tournament through an at-large bid. Green’s base salary would be set at $405,000 with another $32,000 in stipends if he earns the automatic extension for the 2029 season.

WSU hasn’t won at least 45 games since 2008, a share of a conference title since 2010 and played in an NCAA Regional since 2013.

Wichita State is helping pay Green’s buyout at Washington State

According to the agreement, Wichita State is “responsible for a portion” of Green’s buyout from Washington State not exceeding $75,000. If Green leaves WSU for another job before June 30, 2025, then he must repay WSU the sum.

It is unclear Green’s buyout clause at Washington State, but he was under contract for three more seasons and his annual salary when he began the job in 2020 was $315,000. A copy of Green’s contract at Washington State has been requested by The Eagle through an open records request.

What is the buyout information on Green’s contract?

If WSU fires Green without cause at any point in his contract, then the coach receives 75% of the remaining balance of the guaranteed compensation and other compensation owed to him. The agreement stipulates Green would have an “affirmative obligation to make every reasonable effort to obtain subsequent employment at an actual market rate” and the salary at his subsequent employer will reduce WSU’s buyout payment dollar-for-dollar.

For example, if Green is fired without cause following the 2025 season, his second year, he would be owed $975,750. If he is fired without cause after the 2026 season, his third year, he would be owed $655,500.

If Green leaves WSU for another job immediately following his first year (before June 30, 2024), he would owe WSU $1 million (plus repayment of the buyout payment). If he leaves before July 2025, he would owe WSU $700,000 and if he leaves before July 2026, he would owe WSU $400,000. That figure drops to $150,000 before July 2027 and $100,000 before July 2028.

WSU can fire Green 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 Level 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 Green’s contract?

Like his other hires, Saal has incentives for scheduling aggressively. Green will collect a $5,000 bonus if WSU finishes in the top-50 of nonconference strength of schedule or a $2,500 bonus for a top-100 finish.

Green cashes in if WSU finishes in the top-40 ($10,000) or top-50 ($5,000) of the end-of-season RPI rankings. He gets $5,000 if WSU wins at least 35 regular-season games or $15,000 if WSU wins at least 40 regular-season games. He earns another $5,000 if WSU checks in top-25 nationally in team batting average or ERA. Green also gets $5,000 if the baseball team posts an APR four-year cohort score of 985 or annual GPA of 3.3.

Green earns an automatic contract extension if WSU wins at least 45 regular-season games, wins at least a share of the regular season conference championship or receives an NCAA Tournament at-large bid. If Green wins the Conference Coach of the Year, he earns $10,000 and then another $25,000 if he wins National Coach of the Year.

An NCAA Regional final appearance would net Green $25,000, while a Super Regional appearance would add up to $55,000 total. A trip to Omaha with a College World Series berth would earn Green a total of $95,000, while WSU reaching the championship series would give Green $170,000 total and a national championship would net Green a total of $270,000.

Green will be paid out his bonuses by June 30 of each contract year.

What are the benefits in the contract?

On top of covering up to $75,000 of Green’s buyout owed to Washington State, Wichita State is also covering up to $30,000 to help move Green and his family to Wichita.

Green can either pick a car from WSU’s courtesy vehicle program or receive an annual automobile stipend of $7,200. He is also entitled to the same insurance and leave benefits as other full-time employees in Wichita State’s athletic department.

Green will receive 16 tickets to each WSU baseball home game and four lower-bowl tickets to all other WSU athletic events. WSU will also cover expenses for Green’s family to travel to all away games.