A closer look at Teri Moren’s new contract

Some of the biggest news of the record-breaking 2020-21 Indiana women’s basketball season came after the campaign ended. That’s when IU’s athletic department announced that it had agreed to a contract extention with head coach Teri Moren.

It’s the second extension Moren has received since her hiring in 2014, and while IU announced the deal last Thursday, it was actually drafted on Jan. 19 — a sign of confidence in Moren’s vision long before the Hoosiers’ historic march through the NCAA Tournament. Crimson Quarry obtained a copy of the contract through an open records request to find out a little more about what the Indiana coach is working for.

Let’s take a closer look:

Salary escalation

We — and others — touched on the major points of interest in the original breaking news story. In the university’s official relesae, it was noted that Moren’s average annual compensation will be $862,500 through the 2026-27 season. But here’s how it all breaks down, according to the contract:

Moren’s base salary is $375,000. She’ll also make a chunk of cash through outside, marketing and promotion income, which starts at $425,000 in 2021 and increases in increments of $25,000 each year through the 2026-27 season. Here’s how Moren’s salary and additional outside income add up:

2021-22: $800,000

2022-23: $825,000

2023-24: $850,000

2024-25: $875,000

2025-26: $900,000

2026-27: $925,000

Bonus breakdown

And that’s not all! Moren, like every other power conference coach on the planet, has the opportunity to make even more money by steering her team to various accomplishments. Here’s how the bonus opportunities appear:

• $15,000 for winning (or tying for) the Big Ten regular season title
• $15,000 for winning the Big Ten Tournament
• One month’s worth of base salary (approximately $31,000) for qualifying for the NCAA Tournament
• One month’s worth of base salary (approximately $31,000) for winning a first round NCAA Tournament game
• One month’s worth of base salary (approximately $31,000) for winning a second round NCAA Tournament game
• One and a half month’s worth of base salary (approximately $47,000) for winning a Sweet 16 game
• One and a half month’s worth of base salary (approximately $47,000) for winning an Elite Eight game
• One and a half month’s worth of base salary (approximately $47,000) for winning a Final Four game
• Three months’ worth of base salary (approximately $94,000) for winning the NCAA title
• Half a month’s worth of base salary (approximately $14,500) for qualifying for the WNIT
• $2,500 for advancing to the WNIT final
• One month’s worth of base salary (approximately $31,000) for winning the WNIT title
• Half a month’s worth of base salary (approximately $14,500) for winning Big Ten Coach of the Year award
• Half a month’s worth of base salary (approximately $14,500) for winning WBCA Regional Coach of the Year Award
• One month’s worth of base salary (approximately $31,000) for winning WBCA National Coach of the Year Award
• One week’s worth of base salary (approximately $7,000) if the women’s team achieves a cumulative GPA of 2.85 to 2.99 for the academic year
• Half a month’s worth of base salary (approximately $14,500) if the women’s team achieves a GPA of 3.0 or higher for the academic year
• Half a month’s worth of base salary (approximately $14,500) if the women’s team has a GPA that ranks inside the WBCA’s Top 25

The buyout

Considering the current trajectory of the program under Moren, this isn’t likely to be an issue any time soon. But it’s still worth keeping handy.

Should IU fire Moren before June 30, 2024, it would owe the coach 100% of the remaining base salary and outside, marketing and promotion income through 2027. Should IU fire Moren after June 30, 2024, it would owe her 50% of the remaining payments.

The Purdue clause

Former Indiana University athletic director Fred Glass and his staff had a bunch of good, forward-thinking ideas during his run atop the department. A non-compete clause for Moren and Purdue was one of them.

The clause has been reported before, and it remains in the updated pact. Should Moren, a Purdue grad, bolt for West Lafayette, she and the Boilers would have to figure out how to pay a $10 million buyout to IU. The folks in West Lafayette can probably thank Sharon Versyp for that particular contract language.

How it compares

As best we can tell, here’s how the rest of the coaches in the Big Ten have recently been compensated (Note: some coaches accepted salary reductions within the past year):

Brenda Frese, Maryland: $1.3 million in 2019-20

C. Vivian Stringer, Rutgers: $1 million in 2019-20

Lisa Bluder, Iowa: $1 million as of 2019

Kevin McGuff, Ohio State: Original contract included $850,000 salary before bonuses

Kim Barnes Arico, Michigan: $800,000 in 2020-21

Jonathan Tsipis, Wisconsin (fired last month): $646,368 in 2019-20

Amy Williams, Nebraska: $626,750, via 9% raise in 2018

Sharon Versyp, Purdue: 2016 contract extension raised salary to $603,525 before bonuses

Nancy Fahey, Illinois: $548,000 in 2019-20

Suzy Merchant, Michigan State: $527,112 in base salary in 2019-20

Lindsay Whalen, Minnesota: $457,500 in 2019-20