The Rodriguez Contract

Just in case anyone was feeling sour about Rodriguez and his struggles this season (I know...I know), rest assured, once you read the details of his newly signed contract with Michigan, it will put your mind at ease.

The good folks over at Michigan Sports Center have gathered the details of said contract, and have outlined them for us.

• The contract lasts six years.
• A normal contract year begins on January 1 and ends on December 31. The first contract year goes from December 19 of last year to December 31, 2008.
  
• Rodriguez's base salary for the first contract year is $300,000.
• "Additional compensation" will be paid annually to Rodriguez in the amount of $1,650,000.
• If Michigan goes to a non-New Year's Day bowl game, Rodriguez will receive a $50,000 bonus. If Michigan goes to a New Year's Day non-BCS bowl, Rodriguez will get $100,000. Finally, if Michigan goes to a BCS game, Rodriguez will be paid a $200,000 bonus.
• If Michigan wins the BCS National Championship Game, Rodriguez would receive an additional $300,000.
• Michigan's $2.5 million payment to West Virginia for part of Rodriguez's buyout will be taxed. It doesn't appear that it has been determined if Michigan or Rodriguez will pay the taxes.
• Rodriguez and his family get to use two cars as part of the athletic department's "dealer provided automobile program."
• Michigan is responsible for paying Rodriguez's moving expenses.
• Rodriguez will get $550,000 in deferred income each year. He will get that money when he is no longer the head coach.
• Rodriguez will get a private viewing box in 2010 in the new press box area.
• If Michigan were to terminate Rodriguez without cause in the first three years of his contract, he would receive $4 million. If he was fired in the fourth or fifth year of his contract, he would get $2.5 million. Finally, if he was fired in the sixth and final year of his contract, he would get $1.5 million.
• If Rodriguez terminated his contract, he would be responsible for paying Michigan the same amounts listed above.
• $1,950,000 can be used to pay nine assistant coaches and the strength and conditioning coach.
• The assistant coach, offensive coordinator, and defensive coordinator will be offered only one-year contracts.
• Rodriguez and Bill Martin have "joint responsibility" in scheduling games, though Martin has the final say.
• Mary Sue Coleman, Bill Martin, and Rich Rodriguez all signed the contract.