Head Coach Willie Taggart’s new contract calls for him to earn an annual base salary of $475,000 through 2019, but the second-year WKU coach could make more if he reaches certain benchmarks set forth by the deal.

Any season with eight regular season wins triggers a 15 percent base salary increase for Taggart, and any eight-win regular seasons in subsequent years will result in an additional five percent raise.

Taggart will also have the following annual incentive bonuses:

– Winning a Sun Belt Conference Championship (one month salary and one month salary for each assistant coach).

– Reaching a Bowl Championship Series bowl (two month salary and two month salary for each assistant coach).

– Sun Belt coach of the year ($10,000).

– National coach of the year ($10,000).

– Team semester grade point average of 3.0 or higher ($5,000 each semester).

– Season ticket sales of 10,000 per year ($10,000 per year).

 

Taggart’s salary compared to the rest of the Sun Belt Conference head coaches (2011 salaries reported by USA Today)

– Rick Stockstill, Middle Tennessee State: $589,405

– Dan McCarney, North Texas: $545,000

– Mario Cristobal, Florida International: $497,183

– Willie Taggart, WKU: $475,000

– Carl Pelini, Florida Atlantic: $450,000

– Mark Hudspeth, Louisiana-Lafayette: $361,000 (currently negotiating a new contract).

– Larry Blakeney, Troy: $381,000

– Todd Berry, Louisiana-Monroe: $225,000

 

Taggart’s salary compared to other prominent WKU employees

– Willie Taggart, Head Football Coach, $475,000

– Gary Ransdell, School President, $361:104

– Ken McDonald. Head Men’s Basketball Coach: $257,783

– Gordon Emslie, Provost and VP of Academic Affairs: $213,012

– Gordon Baylis, VP for Research: $201,012

– Kathryn Costello, VP Development and Alumni Relations: $200,004

– Ross Bjork, Athletics Director: $186,012

– Robert Owen, VP of Information Technology: $146,892

– Katherine Mead, VP for Finance and Administration: $141,948

– Mary Taylor Cowles, Head Women’s Basketball Coach: $139,740

– Deborah Wilkins, Chief of Staff and General Counsel: $139,476

– Robin Taylor, VP for Public Affairs: $137,520

– John Osborne, VP for Campus Services and Facilities: $127,968

– Howard Bailey, VP for Student Affairs: $126,384