First-year coach Jim McElwain close to cashing in multiple bonuses
Jim McElwain's base salary is $400,000, but he also automatically earns $190,000 in additional compensation and a $50,000 retention bonus regardless of what happens on the field.
McElwain is essentially guaranteed $640,000 for the 2019 season.
But the first-year Central Michigan coach is close to cashing in multiple bonuses.
The Chippewas are 7-4 overall and 5-2 in the Mid-American Conference, along with being one victory away from a spot in the MAC championship game.
Already securing seven wins, McElwain is set to add $7,500 to his check. However, that number increases to $10,000 if he's able to move the team to eight wins.
McElwain will receive $12,500 and $15,000 for nine and 10 wins, respectively. At this point in the season, there's no possible way McElwain could accumulate 11 wins. For what it's worth, that'd be $17,500 in bonus cash.
If McElwain can secure a victory over Toledo on Nov. 29, the Chippewas will win the MAC West Division title. The coach will receive $20,000.
Central Michigan winning the MAC championship game would give McElwain another bonus payment, this time a $25,000 addition to his paycheck.
For participating and winning a bowl game, McElwain would make $20,000 and $25,000, respectively.
If Central Michigan were to win its last three games of the season – against Toledo, against Miami (Ohio) in MAC championship and the bowl game – McElwain would receive $17,500 for 10 wins, $20,000 for MAC West title, $25,000 for MAC championship title, $20,000 for participating in the bowl game and $25,000 for winning the bowl game.
That's a whopping $107,500 in bonus based on game incentives alone. And once he's named MAC Coach of the Year, the total will jump to $132,500.
The $132,500 that McElwain could potentially earn in bonuses does not include attendance or academic incentives.
Here are the bonuses for attendance, academic progress rate and grade-point average:
Average attendance
Exceeds 20,000 persons: $10,000
Exceeds 25,000 persons: $15,000
NCAA single-year APR
Above 950: $2,500
Above 965: $7,500
Above 985: $10,000
GPA
Between 2.7-2.79: $3,000
Between 2.8-2.89: $5,000
Between 2.9-2.99: $7,500
3.0 and above: $15,000
