CU Buffaloes Success Means Big $$ For Coach

By Brian Maass

BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4) - The University of Colorado Buffaloes on-field success in football this year could translate into nearly $500,000 in bonuses for Buffs head coach Mike MacIntyre, according to terms of his contract.

When the Buffaloes beat UCLA 20-10 earlier this month, MacIntyre earned a $50,000 incentive for notching his seventh win of the year. Then when CU went on to knock off Arizona, Macintyre earned another $25,000 for his eigth win of the year, according to his contract.

Colorado now stands at 9-2 after beating Washington State on Saturday. CU faces Utah next weekend in Boulder.

Although MacIntyre's contract guarantees him at least $2 million a year in salary, the incentives he is achieving this season will dramatically increase how much he is paid.

CU has already locked up an appearance in a bowl game, which will earn MacIntyre at least another $200,000.

If the Buffs play in a non-BCS bowl, the coach will earn that $200,000. For a BCS Bowl appearance, MacIntyre will be paid $250,000. If Colorado can beat Utah next weekend and appear in the Pac-12 conference title game, the Buffs coach will then earn another $100,000.

And in the unlikely event CU can somehow make its way into the national championship game and win, that would be worth another $750,000 to the CU coach.

Another incentive: if MacIntyre is named the Pac-12 conference coach of the year, which seems likely, he'll pocket another $25,000.

A contract extension signed in 2014 means MacIntyre is locked in as the CU coach through Dec 31, 2018.

CBS4 Investigator Brian Maass has been with the station more than 30 years uncovering waste, fraud and corruption. Follow him on Twitter @Briancbs4.