Brown has four seasons remaining on his contract. The two-year extension signed in 2021 keeps him under contract through the 2026 season. His salary for 2023 is $4 million up from $3.5 million in 2022 and increases by $1 million in each of the next two years before a $2-million raise in 2026.
If fired before Dec. 31, 2024, Brown is owed 100% of the remaining contract.
For example, if Brown is fired on Nov. 26, 2023 — one day after the end of the regular season — his buyout would be approximately $13 million.
If he’s fired immediately after the 2024 regular season, his buyout would be approximately $9 million. That figure could be reduced to $7.3 million if West Virginia waits until Jan. 1, 2025, to make the move, though the history of college football coaching changes suggests waiting five weeks to save $1.7 million is unlikely.
If fired between Jan. 1, 2025 and Dec. 31, 2026, he’s owed 85% of the remaining contract.
It may never be affordable to fire Brown and just let his contract expire instead.
Now you know why Shane Lyons was canned.
Read contract and buyout details for West Virginia head coach Neal Brown.
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