Michigan football fans are exceedingly frustrated with the team's offense and the bulk of the ire has been pointed at coordinator Jason Beck.
When Michigan takes the field at Rutgers on Saturday, Oct, 31, it will have been more than a month since the offense scored a touchdown on a possession that was not started by a turnover. In 28 such drives (including overtime in U-M's 13-6 loss to Indiana) since scoring against Iowa on Sept. 26, Michigan has 17 punts, five interceptions, one fumble and just three points.
As a result, fans have called for Beck to be fired.
That's an extremely expensive proposition. According to his contract, obtained by the Free Press, firing Beck could cost the Wolverines
more than $9 million − an exorbitant figure for a non-head coach.
Here's how that could happen. Beck, who is getting paid $2.8 million this season (plus a $1.74 million signing bonus), is due for a raise in each of the next two seasons: $3.05 million in 2027-28, $3.3 million in 2028-29.
If Beck "is terminated without cause, he will be paid a Retention Bonus of $1,513,000. If he is the coach or he is terminated without cause by February 1, 2028, he will be paid a Retention Bonus of $1,665,000."
The language is unclear if it is an either/or situation, however given Beck's buyout figure matches each of those payments in the next two seasons, it does not seem U-M would be on the hook for both payments, but rather one, whichever happened first.
On top of that, the Wolverines would have to "pay the Coach any earned but unpaid Team Performance Payments and an amount equivalent to the outstanding Base Salary in monthly installments for the remainder of the scheduled Term of this Agreement, subject to the Coach's obligation to seek alternate employment as soon as possible."
That would be $6.35 million.
Now, the contract also states Beck must "seek alternate employment as soon as possible" and if or when he found it, must inform U-M about its pay. At that point, "the monthly amounts paid by the University will be set off by the Total Compensation earned in such new employment or engagement during the unexpired portion of the Term of this Agreement."
If Beck were to be let go from his employment in Ann Arbor prior to Feb. 1 of next year, then sign a deal worth $4 million over the ensuing two seasons, Michigan would be required to pay him the retention bonuses, plus the difference in his deal − which in this example would be an additional $2.35 million.
Continuing this hypothetical, Michigan would have paid Beck $4.5 million in Year 1 salary, then a buyout of $4 million for just a singular year of service. For perspective, coach Kyle Whittingham's base salary for this season is $8 million.
This doesn't preclude Michigan from making that decision, considering the Wolverines have scored more than 21 points just once under Beck and rushed for more than 200 yards just once.
On Saturday, Whittingham didn't want to put the sole blame on his OC.
“Last year, Jason was exceptional, and we had exceptional results [at Utah],” Whittingham said. “So, I’m not going to say that he’s struggling, but, we’re trying, you know? There’s no lack of work ethic or spending time on it. We’re in the building around the clock. Jason’s just searching for some rhythm and some continuity − probably the best word [for it]."
While fans may not want to read about any financial plight for a school with a $25 billion endowment, the big bucks can't be ignored. Not only is U-M buying out current athletic director Warde Manuel for nearly $10 million at the end of this year, it's still not done paying its $30 million fine handed down from the NCAA for its 2021-23 sign-stealing scandal.
That's not to mention a roster this year that is approaching $40 million, according to a person with knowledge of the situation, a total that could go up in the 2027 season.
The decision may seem obvious to fans, but the dollars at play have to make long term sense − and cents − to those footing the bill.
Tony Garcia is the Michigan beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Contract buyout for Michigan football OC Jason Beck is hefty
