OMAHA, Neb. (AP) New Nebraska coach Scott Frost will bring seven of his assistant coaches from Central Florida with him to Lincoln.
Frost announced Monday that UCF staffers joining him will be offensive line coach Greg Austin, defensive coordinator Erik Chinander, defensive line coach Mike Dawson, outside linebackers-special teams coach Jovan Dewitt, defensive backs coach Travis Fisher, running backs coach Ryan Held and quarterbacks coach Mario Verduzco.
”This is an outstanding group of coaches and men of tremendous character who have played a key role in our success at UCF the past two seasons,” Frost said. ”They are excellent teachers, mentors and recruiters and have earned great respect from the young men who play for them. I am proud they have chosen to join our staff as we get started at Nebraska.”
Troy Walters, the Knights’ offensive coordinator and receivers coach, is UCF’s interim coach and a candidate for the permanent job. The other UCF assistant not on Frost’s list of hires was tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator Sean Beckton.
The staff has a Nebraska flavor. Austin was an offensive lineman for the Huskers from 2003-06 and Held was a walk-on receiver in 1994-95. Barrett Ruud, a star linebacker for the Huskers from 2001-04, also is on the staff but his assignment has not been announced.
The assistants will all have two-year contacts through Dec. 31, 2019. All of the coaches are currently part-time employees to allow them to coach UCF in the Peach Bowl against Auburn. Their status will change to full-time after the UCF bowl game.
Frost’s contract has not been finalized, but according to a memorandum of understanding released Monday he will have a salary pool of up to $5 million a year for his assistant coaches. Frost has committed $3.175 million in salaries so far: Chinander ($800,000), Austin ($475,000), Dawson ($475,000), Dewitt ($475,000), Verduzco ($350,000), Fisher ($300,000) and Held ($300,000).
Frost can have three more full-time assistants. The NCAA is allowing a 10th assistant for the first time beginning in January.
Frost, who agreed to a seven-year deal totaling $35 million, can earn bonuses totaling almost $1 million if he’s able to win conference and national championships in the same year, according to the memorandum signed on Nov. 27, six days before he was announced as the new coach.
His bonus structure calls for him to be paid $100,000 for winning or tying for first in the Big Ten West, $200,000 for appearing in the conference championship game or $300,000 for winning the league title. He would receive $150,000 for a non-College Football Playoff bowl appearance, $250,000 for a CFB bowl, $300,000 for a CFP semifinal, $350,000 for making it to the national championship game or $650,000 for winning the national title.
If Frost is fired without cause, the university would owe him $5 million for each of the first five years of the term and $2.5 million a year thereafter, with the amount mitigated if Frost gets a job with an NCAA Division I or NFL team. If Frost takes another job, Nebraska would be owed a buyout of $2.5 million a year for each year remaining on the contract, prorated for partial years.
Frost also will be provided up to 20 hours of private non-commercial flight time each fiscal year for his and his family’s personal travel.
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