Mike Bobo just became the Mountain West’s highest-paid head coach, and on Colorado State’s bye week to boot.
Tim DeRuyter was fired three days ago by the Fresno State Bulldogs following a 1-7 start for the football team, and he was 30-30 since taking over the team in 2012. At Fresno State, DeRuyter was working under a five-year, $7.5 million contract.
Now, Bobo’s $1.45 million salary for this season means he’s the top-earning head coach in the Mountain West. Next year, Bobo’s salary is set to increase to $1.55 million; then, $1.65 million in 2017 and $1.75 million in 2018, the last year of the deal.
And, with a bowl berth, Bobo will earn a bonus of $50,000. CSU sits at 4-4 currently, and with a game against the aforementioned Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday, Nov. 5, a win in that game seems likely. If Colorado State can somehow win out, going 8-4 in the regular season, Bobo’s bonus will increase to $75,000.
Other bonuses which Bobo may receive in future years include $25,000 each for winning a seventh and/or eighth conference game in a year, $50,000 for qualifying to play in the Mountain West Championship Game and another $50,000 for winning the championship.
Then there are bonuses for playing in a College Football Playoff game ($100,000), winning one ($100,000) and winning MW Coach of the Year ($10,000) among others.
Ironically, Bobo becomes the Mountain West’s highest-paid coach due to DeRuyter being fired, and then Bobo’s team (CSU) hosts DeRuyter’s former team (Fresno State) in the Rams’ next game.
Currently on their bye week, Colorado State is continuing to grind and search for the complete game, something unseen from the team this year. After their 42-23 victory last Saturday over UNLV in Las Vegas, their first road win of the season, the Rams can carry over the confidence and still know there’s much more work to be done.
After jumping out to a 35-0 lead at half on UNLV, CSU gave up 17 unanswered points before eventually winning 42-23. After the bye week, they face Fresno State, then travel to Colorado Springs to play Air Force (4-3, 1-3 MW), host New Mexico (4-3, 2-1) in the final game at Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium then finish the regular season at San Diego State (6-1, 3-0) on Nov. 26.
