The Anatomy of a Coach's Deal

Reading the transactions column in the daily sports page, studying the waiver wire and reviewing the latest sports deal on the Internet have become habits of mine. To the uninitiated, what a good head football coach should be awarded in his contract might translate only into dollar compensation. Let me suggest, rather, that the deal\'s design and structure, the performance incentives, roll-over provisions, outside income, retirement benefits, split-dollar collateral assignment cash-value life insurance, settlement options, termination provisions, clear definitions of just cause, and the lack of a coach buy-out clause to the university\'s benefit are all critical elements far more important than money. All too often universities do not appreciate the difficulties in the life of the football coach, nor do they value just what it takes for the coach to make the program a winner. Those