Maryland's coaches among the biggest winners from Saturday's victory

What was the difference between being 8-4 and 7-5 --- or, more specifically, 5-3 and 4-4 in the ACC  --- for Maryland's coaches?

How about a cool $215,000 between the 10 of them?

That's the amount in bonuses Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen and his nine assistants are expected to collect for finishing in a three-way tie for third among all ACC school based upon a review of their contracts. The contracts were obtained through an open records request with the school.

But if the Terrapins had lost, they would have tumbled into a five-way tie for fifth place among all 12 conference schools. Boston College, Clemson, Georgia Tech and North Carolina all finished at 4-4.

And what do the contracts say about a five-way tie for fifth? Nothing. So much like two years ago, when Maryland wound up in a six-way tie for fifth, the staff likely would have received no bonuses because the scenario was not stipulated in their deals.

In short, the Terps' coaches didn't just have the chance to improve their bowl prospects and quadruple their win total at stake. They each had a bonus at stake, and in a scenario that was all-or-nothing.

Friedgen has 24 ACC standings bonuses in his contract ranging from $300,000 for finishing in sole possession of first to $20,000 for a four-way tie for sixth. The coordinators' bonus structure ranges from $70,000 to $10,000, while the other assistants range from $35,000 to $4,000.

For finishing in a three-way tie for third (with Miami and N.C. State), Friedgen is to receive a bonus of $55,000. Coordinators Don Brown and James Franklin both will collect $35,000, while assistants Charles Bankins, Tom Brattan, John Donovan, Lee Hull, Al Seamonson and Dave Sollazzo will each pick up an additional $15,000.

Comments

[Jonah]

I think incentives like these are what Anderson needs to have when he looks into extending the coaching staffs contracts. Bonuses should be commensurate with the teams performance and if the team does really well the bonuses should compete with or be better than what the elite colleges offer. Thats one way of attracting quality staff.