Playoffs pay off: Here’s how much Boise State football coaches earned in bonuses so far

When you see coaches celebrating a big victory, there’s no doubt that stems from the team’s success — from all of their hard work paying off.

But that hard work also comes with a payout for many coaches.

College football coaches nationwide have performance-based bonuses in their contracts. And thanks to Boise State’s historic 2024 season, which has seen the Broncos go 12-1, win the Mountain West championship and qualify for the College Football Playoff, the coaching staff is set for a nice payday.

Below is how much each member of the staff is set to make in bonuses this season, according to contracts obtained by the Idaho Statesman. Bonuses are awarded as a percentage of each coach’s annual salary, meaning they obviously are based on the coach’s 2024 salary.

Each coach also earns a bonus between 3%-6% for the football team’s Academic Progress Rate, a measurement calculated by the NCAA to encourage schools to keep their athletes performing well in school and on course to graduate. The bonus depends on where Boise State’s APR ranking is relative to other national programs at the end of the season, so it’s not included in these totals.

Head coach Spencer Danielson

In his first year as the Broncos’ full-time head coach, Danielson is reaping the financial benefits of an incredibly successful season. His base salary for the 2024 season was $1.1 million, and that rises by $100,000 each season until his contract expires on Feb. 28, 2029.

Here are the bonuses that Danielson has accrued:

• Team wins 6th conference game against a Mountain West opponent: 1% ($11,000)

• Team wins 7th conference game against a Mountain West opponent: 1% ($11,000)

• Team wins 8th conference game against a Mountain West opponent: 2% ($22,000)

• Team participates in the conference championship game: 4% ($44,000)

• Team wins conference championship game: 6% ($66,000)

Danielson also will earn bonuses based on Boise State’s participation in the playoffs. The bonus for receiving a first-round bye and being in the quarterfinals was 10% ($110,000), but that can rise if the team keeps winning. It would go to 12% for making the semifinals, 16% for participating in the championship game and 20% for winning the national title.

Lastly, Danielson earned a 2% ($22,000) bonus for being named Mountain West coach of the year and another 2% ($22,000) for being named American Football Coaches Association regional coach of the year.

Counting the regular-season bonuses and the guaranteed 10% CFP bonus, Danielson has netted $308,000 this season, with the potential to rise to $418,000.

Offensive and defensive coordinators

Offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter and defensive coordinator Erik Chinander have identical bonuses, but fewer are available to them than Danielson. The duo doesn’t earn bonuses for the number of wins against conference opponents, but they do get a 4% bonus for participating in a conference championship and 6% for winning it.

The same bonuses Danielson gets for CFP participation also apply to Chinander and Koetter.

The difference between the pair is their base salary: Koetter at $460,000 and Chinander at $440,000.

Dirk Koetter

• Team participates in the conference championship game: 4% ($18,400)

• Team wins conference championship game: 6% ($27,600)

• Team participates in the quarterfinal game of CFP: 10% ($46,000)

• Total to date: $92,000

Erik Chinander

• Team participates in the conference championship game: 4% ($17,600)

• Team wins conference championship game: 6% ($26,400)

• Team participates in the quarterfinal game of CFP: 10% ($44,000)

• Total to date: $88,000

Rest of Boise State coaching staff

The rest of Boise State’s assistants have the same bonus structure as the coordinators, but at lower salaries.

Stacy Collins - Special teams coordinator, inside linebackers

Annual salary: $350,000

Bonuses to date: $70,000

Nate Potter - Co-offensive coordinator, tight ends

Annual salary: $260,000

Bonuses to date: $52,000

Tyler Stockton - Co-defensive coordinator, safeties

Annual salary: $260,000

Bonuses to date: $52,000

Tim Keane - Offensive line

Annual salary: $260,000

Bonuses to date: $52,000

Demario Warren - Cornerbacks

Annual salary: $240,000

Bonuses to date: $48,000

James Montgomery - Running backs

Annual salary: $235,000

Bonuses to date: $47,000

Matt Miller - Wide receivers

Annual salary: $215,000

Bonuses to date: $43,000

Jabril Frazier - Edge

Annual salary: $140,000

Bonuses to date: $28,000