Bellotti's New Agreement Includes Donation to University's Library Fund
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University of Oregon head football coach Mike Bellotti has agreed to a contract addendum that not only enhances the stability of the Ducks’ football program but also initiates an ongoing contribution to the Bellotti Family Library Endowment Fund, according to the university’s Director of Athletics Pat Kilkenny. Under the agreement, which culminated discussions that began during the summer of 2007, Bellotti’s base salary will remain $150,000 per year. However, the minimum guaranteed salary he receives from supplemental sources and incentivies will increase from $750,000 to $1,127,500. When including an estimated $800,000 bonus from the sale of season tickets, his estimated salary for the 2007 season reached just over $1.9 million. Bellotti’s entire salary is funded by the university’s athletics department and none comes from the university’s general fund or from state tax dollars. The university’s winningest football coach in the 112-year history of the program (106-52), Bellotti completed his 13th season as Oregon’s head coach with a 9-4 record and a 56-21 win over South Florida in the 74th annual Brut Sun Bowl. The Ducks climbed to 23rd in the country in the final Associated Press national writers’ poll after being ranked as high as No. 2 nationally earlier in the year. “I can’t say enough regarding how fortunate I feel to have a coach the caliber of Mike Bellotti directing this program and believe his commitment to the university speaks for itself,” said Kilkenny. “Although this contract has been in the works since last summer, the job he and his entire coaching staff did last season alone epitomizes the excellence he has demonstrated in his 13 seasons as head coach as well as solidifies the future of Oregon athletics.” The primary increase in Bellotti’s salary comes from incentives, which are increased from $100,000 to $477,500. Further incentives added to the pact that are tied to academic performance and enhancements relating to on-the-field success — such as winning the BCS National Championship game, increased television exposure, national rankings, graduation rates and APR scores — could boost the potential for Bellotti to earn as much as $3,050,000 per year. As part of the new agreement, Bellotti has offered to donate a portion of his earnings back to the university through the Bellotti Family Library Endowment Fund, with the same amount to be matched by the athletics department. Bellotti’s personal contribution would be based on a sliding percentage of earnings of $1.5 million or more, which would amount to anywhere from a $30,000 to a $150,000 donation. This is not the first time that the Oregon head coach had donated money back to the university. He contributed $25,000 to the UO Libraries in 2002, with that amount also matched by the athletics department. The new agreement represents the first significant salary increase since 2003 for the coach who is tied for fourth all-time in conference wins (65-40) and is one of only six football coaches in the history of the Pacific-10 Conference and its predecessors to win 100 or more games at the same school. A rollover clause was added to Bellotti’s contract in 2003 and remains in affect, providing him with five years remaining on his contract at the mutual consent of both the university and its head coach. A written addendum containing the terms of the new agreement has not yet been drafted. However, the terms agreed to above will be included in the written addendum, which is expected to be completed this summer. - www.GoDucks.com - 
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