Inside the details of Deion Sanders’ contract with the Colorado Buffaloes

The Colorado Buffaloes are on the verge of making Deion Sanders’ deal to become the 28th head coach of the program official—all that is needed is a rubber stamp from the CU Board of Regents.

Sanders was announced as the head coach on Saturday night, with a ton of hype leading up to his introduction. The two-sport star comes from Jackson State to lead the Buffs after an undefeated season, SWAC Title Game win and another trip to the Celebration Bowl.

Sanders contract at CU will be for five years, at $29.5 million. Which comes out to an average of $5.9 million per season, the terms come from Brian Howell of the Boulder Daily Camera. Sanders will make  $5.5 million this season, with raises of $200 thousand each year.

Per Howell, Sanders would owe the school $15 million if he leaves in year one, $10 million in year two, $8 million in the third year and $5 million if he leaves after that. Meanwhile, if Colorado fires Coach Prime at any point in the deal, the school would owe him 75% of his remaining contract.

Sanders assistant pool is expected to jump significantly from what CU had before as well, going from $4 million to $5 million a year. There are already a few exciting names said to be joining his staff like Charles Kelly and Nick Williams.

The man Sanders replaces, Karl Dorrell, was the highest-paid coach in CU history, who signed for five years and $18 million.

Here are some of the incentives in the Sanders deal, per Howell.

• $50k if football team attains APR of 965. In the first contract year, Coach will earn this incentive if team attains an APR above 954.
• $150k if football team wins six games
• $100k for each additional win after six games
• $150k if team is invited to a non-NY6 bowl game
• $200k if team is invited to a NY bowl game
• $450k if football team is invited to CFP
• $750k if team wins national championship
• $75k if football team plays in Pac-12 Championship game
• $150k if team wins Pac-12
• $75k if coach is Pac-12 COY
• $150k if coach is National COY

Colorado finished 1-11 this season, the most-losing season in the program’ history. Next season they will kickoff the 100th year of football at Folsom Field under Coach Prime’s leadership.

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