Prior to bowl win, Jerry Kill signs five-year contract at New Mexico State
LAS CRUCES - Prior to leaving Las Cruces for the Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit, New Mexico State head football coach signed his contract on Dec. 21.
The salary schedule previously reported remained the same - $3.1 million over five years.
There were some clauses in the contract that are unique to Kill's contract related to his buyout, compared to other coaches contracts at the school. Kill's buyout is 50 percent of his remaining salary if he leaves the position, but the buyout would essentially go away under the following conditions:
Kill unilaterally terminates the agreement prior to Feb. 1, 2024.
Current NM State athletics director Mario Moccia were to leave and current Chief Operating Officer, Braun Cartwright, is not promoted to replace Moccia.
Installation of a new videoboard prior to the first home game in 2024.
Construction of an artificial turn practice facility prior to the first home game of the 2024 season.
Pave the Lot 35 prior to the first home game of 2024.
Construction of a NMSU home football lockerroom prior to the first game of the 2024 season.
If Kill were to leave for a full time assistant coach position at a FBS school.
"I'm happy that the contract was completed before we left for the bowl game," NM State athletics director Mario Moccia said. "I have a unique relationship with Jerry. We have known each other for 17 years. With our previous relationship, I wasn't concerned. We hired him (following the 2021 season), he built his staff and recruited immediately. We drug him around the state and then he started the season. It didn't raise to the highest priority level as it would with other coaches."
Moccia said he's confident the facility upgrades will be met by 2024. Funding for the lockerroom project and turf replacement have already been secured.
Kill made $550,000 in his first season in Las Cruces. He received a $10,000 bonus for beating rival New Mexico and $20,000 for winning six or more games to become bowl eligible. Other incentives include $25,000 for seven wins, $30,000 for eight wins, $35,000 for 9-12 wins, $10,000 for retaining 90 percent of non-graduating scholarship players from the end of one season to the beginning of the next season and $10,000 for being named the Conference Coach of the Year.
His salary jumps to $600,000 next season and $650,000 per year for the final three years of the contract.
The Aggies are set to join Conference USA next season and Kill's salary would have been the second lowest among C-USA coaches this year, according to the USA Today football coaches database.
"This was never about compensation, but it was Jerry's desire that administration and the university would address some of the critical football infrastructure needs that had been historically neglected," Moccia said.
While Kill's deal was signed on Dec. 21, his staff signed their contracts prior to the season, but the expectation is they will be extended following the Aggies bowl run.
Kill spoke about the influence of offensive coordinator Tim Beck on the success of the Aggies, who went 7-6 and beat Bowling Green in the Quick Lane Bowl on Monday in Detroit.
"A lot of that has to do with our offensive coordinator and my comrade for 40 years and actually coached him, Tim Beck," Kill said.
Beck signed a three-year contract for $250,000 per year. Defensive coordinator Nate Dreiling signed a three-year contract for $170,000 per year as all 10 assistant coaches signed at least a two-year contract.
Jason Groves can be reached at 575-541-5459 or jgroves@lcsun-news.com. Follow him on Twitter @jpgroves.
This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Prior to bowl win, Jerry Kill signs five-year contract at New Mexico State
