Josh Gattis is the new offensive coordinator for Michigan football and has agreed to a three-year deal with the university worth at least $2.9 million.
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While the news of Gattis joining the Wolverines broke last Thursday, details surrounding his contract have just started to emerge. According to the Detroit Free Press, who received a copy of Gattis’ memorandum of understanding from the university via a Freedom of Information Act request, the deal runs through Jan. 10, 2022, and will pay Josh Gattis $900,000 annually.
Gattis will also receive a $200,000 signing bonus within 30 days of the signing of the agreement and a successful background check.
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In addition to his base salary, Gattis will be eligible for up to $400,000 per year in bonuses based on performance goals that’ll be set by Jim Harbaugh. These additional incentives have the potential to push Gattis’ salary to as high as $1.3 million per year.
For those keeping score at home that means Gattis could make up to $1.5 million at Michigan in 2019, $1.3 million in 2020, and $1.3 million in 2021. For comparison, Gattis made $525,000 as a co-offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach at Alabama last season.
Buyout scenarios
The University of Michigan will not require a buyout from Gattis if he leaves the program before the close of his deal for a head coaching opportunity. However, if Gattis leaves Michigan for another assistant coaching job during the first year of his deal, he’ll owe the school $400,000. If Gattis leaves for an assistant job in his second or third year, he’ll owe $250,000. There will be no buyout if he leaves after Dec. 1, 2021.
Michigan has also agreed not to block Gattis from interviewing for potential NFL jobs.
High paid coaching staff
Michigan currently has two assistant coaches on staff making at least $1 million annually: assistant head coach/passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach Pep Hamilton and defensive coordinator Don Brown.
Hamilton, who does not have an offensive coordinator title, is scheduled to make at least $1.25 million if he’s with the program next season.
Michigan’s assistant coaches were the highest-paid group in the Big Ten and the fourth highest paid in the country this past season. The Wolverines paid $5.645 million for their nine assistant coaches this year.
The full Big Ten assistant pay breakdown:
1. Michigan, $5.65 million
2. Ohio State, $4.49 million
3. Iowa, $3.87 million
4. Nebraska, $3.73 million
5. Michigan State, $3.53 million
6. Illinois, $3.36 million
7. Minnesota, $3.22 million
8. Maryland, $3.19 million
9. Purdue, $3.1 million
10. Wisconsin, $2.98 million
11. Rutgers, $2.84 million
12. Indiana, $2.5 million
Note: Penn State and Northwestern numbers were not made available (numbers provided courtesy of the Detroit Free Press).
The addition of Josh Gattis should have Michigan towards the top of the list in both the Big Ten and the nation again in the 2019 season.
