Brent Vigen will coach Montana State for the program's first FCS national championship since 1984 against North Dakota State on Monday night in Frisco, Texas.
But before that, the 49-year-old Vigen inked a new 4-year contract and, thanks to MontanaSports.com we have a look at how the money works at the top end of the FCS.
The contract, which went into effect Wednesday, will pay Vigen a base salary of $295,000, with annual $50,000 retention bonuses paid each July 1. He'll also earn $80,000 for his radio/TV appearances and $30,000 for public appearances such as fundraising, booster functions and public speaking on behalf of the university. Vigen's previous deal, signed in 2023, placed his base salary just shy of $215,000.
All told, Vigen will make $455,000 a year simply for remaining employed by Montana State and making his contractually-obligated public appearances.
Vigen's bonus structure not only incentivizes him to win (duh), it also incentivizes him to help Montana State raise money. He'll earn $25,000 if the Bobcat Club raises at least $500,000 each year, and $50,000 if the Bobcat Club raises $1 million or more.
Vigen can also collect, and distribute, bonuses based on how Montana State schedules. He'll make $55,000 for each game the Bobcats play against a Power 4 opponent and $25,000 for each game against a Group of 5 foe. His assistants will earn $2,500 apiece for each P4 game and $1,000 for each G5 game.
Montana State opens 2025 at Oregon and 2026 at Nevada. The Bobcats do not presently have an FBS opponent on the slate for 2027.
Furthermore, Vigen will collect an extra $25,000 if Montana State plays at least seven regular season home games. The Bobcats are slated for seven such games in 2025, beginning with 2022-23 national champion South Dakota State. If College GameDay had an FCS equivalent, Bizarro Rece, Kirk and the Gang would absolutely be in Bozeman on Sept. 6.
Other, more typical bonuses include:
-- $5,000 for a team GPA of 2.7 or higher ($500 for each assistant)
-- $10,000 for a team APR of 980 or higher
-- $7,500 for selling at least 10,000 tickets, and $2,500 for each additional thousand
-- $10,000 for a Big Sky and national coach of the year award
-- $12,500 for a Big Sky championship ($1,000 for each assistant)
-- $5,000 for defeating an FCS team in non-conference play that reached the playoffs the year prior
-- $7,500 for reaching eight, nine and 10 wins
-- $7,500 for reaching the FCS playoffs ($500 for each assistant)
-- $7,500 for reaching the second round
-- $10,000 for reaching the FCS quarterfinals ($500 for each assistant)
-- $2,500 for hosting an FCS quarterfinal game, and $10,000 for hosting an FCS semifinal ($500 for each assistant)
-- $5,000 for reaching the FCS semifinals, and $15,000 for reaching the FCS National Championship ($500 for each assistant)
-- Finally, $50,000 for winning an FCS national title and $2,000 for each assistant
The Big Sky and Eddie Robinson FCS Coach of the Year, Vigen would have already collected more than $100,000 in bonuses for Montana State's current season -- that's based on in-game accomplishments, not including team academic performance and ticket sales -- with a $50,000 pay day waiting on Monday.