UT Sets Dooley Buyout At $4 Million Through 2012

Deal sets Dooley buyout at $4 million through 2012

Associated Press

Wednesday, Mar. 31, 2010 - 6:50 p.m. ET

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee has written some hefty protection for the program and the coach into its deal with new coach Derek Dooley.

Dooley would have to pay $4 million if he resigns before Feb. 15, 2012, a number that drops to $3 million through the next year, and down to $1 million in February 2014. The buyout then drops by $250,000 each of the following two years, according to a memorandum of understanding signed by Dooley on March 3 and released Wednesday by the school.

Tennessee's buyout to get rid of Dooley is even steeper. He would be owed $5 million through Feb. 15, 2013, a number that drops to $4 million into 2014 and 2015. The buyout falls to $2.5 million after Feb. 15, 2015.

Dooley's contract information was announced in February. His six-year deal pays him $1.8 million this year and increases yearly by $100,000 with his base salary reaching $2.3 million in 2015.

But the high numbers help protect the university if Dooley decides to bolt as Lane Kiffin did for Southern California in January. Dooley also gets some protection in case he struggles with Tennessee as expected. The Vols went 7-6 last season, and the program returns only four starters on offense and no starting linemen or quarterback.

It isn't much better on defense where only six starters are back.

His bonuses include $40,000 for a non-Bowl Championship Series bowl game, $150,000 for a BCS game, $80,000 for reaching the Southeastern Conference championship game and $150,000 for winning. His deal includes $150,000 for playing in the BCS title game and $200,000 if he wins.

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