Pearl's New Contract Worth $1.5 Million

Source: Pearl's new contract would pay $1.5 million this season

• By Mike Griffith
  
• govolsxtra.com
  
• Posted October 22, 2010 at 1:42 p.m.
  

The revised contract the University of Tennessee has offered men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl would pay him $1.5 million each of the next two seasons and $10 million over the next five years, according to UT athletic department sources familiar with the situation.

Pearl's previous contract called for him to make $2 million this season, $2.1 million next season and $11.5 over the next five years.

The sources spoke Friday morning on condition of anonymity because the contract has yet to be signed.

The contract reflects UT taking $1.5 million from Pearl's salary as part of a self-imposed sanctions package the school has proposed to the NCAA in light of multiple violations that occurred during Sept. 20, 2008, recruiting visits with high school juniors.

Pearl's new contract offer is consistent with the previous one in that it offers him similar bonus opportunities for postseason appearances and coach of the year awards.

The new deal, however, delays a $500,000 retention bonus he was due in November of 2012. Pearl would now receive the retention bonus in June of 2015.

Athletic director Mike Hamilton said Thursday he sent Pearl the contract two weeks ago.

© 2010, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.