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Rex Brown
Clemson coach Tommy Bowden will earn yearly guaranteed compensation of $1.83 million. Bowden's previous package came to about $1.2 million.
CLEMSON — Clemson's next national championship could bring football coach Tommy Bowden more than $2.5 million.
On Wednesday, the school released details of new agreements signed by Bowden and men's basketball coach Oliver Purnell. The releases followed Freedom of Information Act requests from The Associated Press and other media organizations.
Bowden's contract keeps him at Clemson through 2014, and includes hefty penalties should either side try and end the deal early.
Bowden will earn yearly guaranteed compensation of $1.83 million — a base salary of $295,000, $250,000 to a retirement plan, $30,000 to invest in annuities, and $1,255,000 in outside income.
Bowden's previous package came to about $1.2 million.
Under the new deal, the coach could earn an additional $700,000 should he fulfill all contractual incentives, one of which is a bonus of up to $200,000 for winning the school's first national championship since 1981.
Bowden agreed to the new deal last December amid reports he talked with Arkansas about its head-coaching vacancy.
But Bowden and school administrators worked out a longterm extension that, if he stays until the end, would make him the Tigers second longest-serving coach behind the late Frank Howard.
Bowden and the school share similar buyout penalties. Either side would have to pay $4 million to the other if the contract were terminated before Dec. 1. That would shrink by $500,000 after each of the next four seasons and remain at $2 million for the deal's final three years.
"Anytime you sign a new contract, you feel a little better," Bowden said last December in discussing the deal. "It's kind of like Christmas. You keep the gift all year, but when you open it up, it's always a little nicer."
Clemson athletic director Terry Don Phillips has said the contract made Bowden one of the highest paid coaches in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Bowden starts his 10th season as coach this fall. The Tigers (9-4) came a game away from reaching the ACC's title game, losing 20-17 to Boston College at Death Valley last November.
Clemson recovered a week later, defeating rival South Carolina 23-21 on Mark Buchholz's field goal as time expired.
That victory gave Bowden a 7-2 mark over the Gamecocks.
Clemson had a chance to get 10 victories for the first time since 1991, but lost to Auburn 23-20 in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.
The Tigers are expected to again challenge for an ACC title this year, powered by their "Thunder and Lightning" backfield of James Davis and C.J. Spiller.
The Tigers open the season against Alabama in the Georgia Dome on Aug. 30.
Purnell was rewarded with a two-year contract extension after the Tigers made the NCAA tournament for the first time in a decade. He will receive a yearly guaranteed package of $1 million — a base of $225,000 and $775,000 in outside income.
Purnell agreed to the two-year extension in March, meaning he's also tied to the university through 2014.
Purnell has gone 94-67 in his five years with Clemson and has a school record 49 wins during the last two seasons.
Clemson advanced to the ACC tournament final before falling to North Carolina. In their first NCAA appearance since 1998, the Tigers fell to 12th seed Villanova 75-69 in the opening round.
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