Razorbacks AD Yurachek handles contracts uniquely

University of Arkansas Athletic Director Hunter Yurachek is shown in this April 9, 2019 file photo.
University of Arkansas Athletic Director Hunter Yurachek is shown in this April 9, 2019 file photo.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Nearly 19 months into his tenure, University of Arkansas Athletic Director Hunter Yurachek has standardized the contracts for many of the head coaches of the Razorbacks' 19 sports programs.

Of the 11 Arkansas head coaches who were on staff when Yurachek was hired, seven have amended or new contracts with similar parameters that can extend their employment by up to two seasons and include up to two pay raises for competitive success -- notably reaching the NCAA postseason in team sports. Each contract includes a cap on the maximum length of employment (not to exceed seven seasons in most cases) and total potential pay raise, which is based on the individual's salary.

Similar provisions are in the contracts of the two head coaches hired this year by Yurachek -- men's basketball Coach Eric Musselman and gymnastics Coach Jordyn Wieber -- and swimming and diving Coach Neil Harper is in the process of coming to a new agreement with the athletics department, according to a department spokesman.

"If we're going to have success, I want our coaches to be rewarded instantly for their success -- to know that's part of their contract, whether it's a rollover or a bonus or whatever the case may be," Yurachek said. "Plus, I don't want to be renegotiating coaches' contracts every year. That's why there are built-in incentives for additional years, additional salary increases when we have success, because it's hard in this conference to have success."

Six head coaches -- Lance Harter (women's track and field/cross country), Chris Bucknam (men's track and field/cross country), Dave Van Horn (baseball), Courtney Deifel (softball), Shauna Taylor (women's golf) and Brad McMakin (men's golf) -- all signed amended contracts last summer, and all but Bucknam earned one-year extensions through the 2023-24 school year with their teams' performances in the past season.

Van Horn, Deifel, McMakin and Taylor earned extensions by their teams making the NCAA postseason, while the contracts for Harter and Bucknam call for an extension if two of their three teams finish in the top 10 of an NCAA championship meet.

Harter's indoor and outdoor track and field teams both won NCAA championships in 2019.

Those coaches also earned annual pay raises worth a combined $130,000 that took effect with the new fiscal year that began Monday, and their competition-based bonuses were worth a combined $384,582 in fiscal year 2019.

"Our spring sports have just had phenomenal success since I've been here," Yurachek said, "and they were rewarded for it."

Harter led the way with $186,250 in competitive bonuses in 2018-19, according to an analysis of his contract. Harter received two bonuses for winning national championships, three bonuses for SEC championships and SEC coach of the year honors, and two bonuses for national coach of the year honors. He also can receive bonuses for his teams' academic achievements.

"The competitive instincts that I have, and I think my peers have as well, it's extra motivation that you're going to be rewarded," Harter said. "Not only does it give you security with multiple years, but also the incentive to rise to the challenge.

"I think [Yurachek] is definitely a coach's coach in the respect that he understands how to appeal to the competitiveness of the sport that you happen to be in."

Van Horn is in line to receive around $123,333 in total bonuses for the Razorbacks advancing to the College World Series and winning the SEC Western Division championship.

The latest Arkansas coach to amend his contract is Colby Hale, who is the soccer program's all-time victories leader and has led the Razorbacks to NCAA Tournaments in six of the past seven seasons.

Hale signed a contract extension in 2017 that runs through 2021. The amendment he signed May 28 did not extend the length of his contract but gave him up to two automatic one-season renewals and up to two $15,000 pay raises if the Razorbacks reach the NCAA Tournament.

Jason Belzer, a New York attorney who represents multiple college head coaches as an agent and is the publisher of the website AthleticDirectorU.com, said Yurachek's approach is unique among athletics directors.

"There are plenty of ADs on the Power Five level who will say, 'I don't want a rollover. I want to be able to have a conversation to figure out what I need to do, and I'll happily renegotiate my coaches' contracts every year if they are having great performance,'" said Belzer, who does not represent any Arkansas coaches.

"It's probably the only athletics department that I've ever heard that has that kind of uniformity when it comes to a rollover contract. A rollover is typically bargained for after an exceptional performance by a coach. A lot of times it is done by a coach who knows he or she is going to be at the university for a long time, just to make it easier not to have to renegotiate a contract on a consistent basis."

Belzer said while automatic renewals are nice to have in a contract, they won't necessarily stop a coach from attempting to renegotiate frequently.

"If that coach goes to the NCAA Tournament every year, I'm probably going to want more than just the one-year extensions," Belzer said, "and especially if they go deep into the NCAA Tournament."

Football Coach Chad Morris, women's basketball Coach Mike Neighbors and women's tennis Coach Courtney Steinbock signed agreements in 2018 that do not include rollovers, but have similar language to other UA coaches for competitive bonuses.

Men's tennis Coach Andy Jackson and volleyball Coach Jason Watson are working under contracts signed prior to Yurachek's arrival.

Sports on 07/05/2019

Upcoming Events