Let's take a closer look at Bobby Petrino's contract
Louisville released the highlights of Bobby Petrino's contract on Friday, and the big ticket item from January - the $10 million buyout - made it in the final version. Should Petrino take another job on or before June 30, 2017, he (or, more accurately, his next employer) would be on the hook for $10,000,000. The buyout decreases by $1.5 million a year from there. If, say, Petrino leaves after the 2016 season, Louisville would have actually made $1 million for his three years of service (minus bonuses). It's worth noting, however, that the buyout decreases by 50 percent if Cardinals athletics director Tom Jurich vacates his post.
As for the rest of the deal, Petrino is signed to a six-year contract with a base salary of $3 million a year. His predecessor, Charlie Strong, made $3.7 million in 2013, while Petrino banked $855,600 at Western Kentucky according to the USA Today coaching salary database.
Petrino can also earn a $500,000 bonus if Louisville posts an APR score of 935 or higher. The Cardinals scored a 924 in 2011-12, but registered consecutive years of 952, 947 and 943 from 2004-06 under Petrino, Louisville's three highest scores since the APR system debuted a decade ago.
From there, Petrino's bonuses range from $25,000 for a conference championship, a top 25 finish or a team GPA of 2.5 to 2-74 up to a $200,000 bonus for a national championship. Petrino can earn up to $4.05 million in one season.
