A deal in the desert? Arizona coach Kevin Sumlin to make same as ASU's Herm Edwards in 2018

Kevin Sumlin is an accomplished coach, a talented recruiter and — to hear those close to him say it — a leader of men.

Arizona’s new football coach is also a (relative) bargain. Sumlin and the UA agreed to a five-year, $14.5 million memorandum of understanding this week. The deal calls for Sumlin to make $2 million in 2018 — the same as Arizona State’s Herm Edwards and just $200,000 more than Oregon State’s Jonathan Smith.

Sumlin’s contract will go before the Arizona Board of Regents next week for approval.

Here’s a look at the coach’s new deal, and how it stacks up against the Pac-12's other newly hired coaches:

New coach: Kevin Sumlin

Contract terms: 5 years, $14.5 million

Details: Sumlin is scheduled to make $2 million per year in both 2018 and 2019, with that sum jumping to $3.5 million in 2020. Sumlin's contract is still subject to approval by the Arizona Board of Regents.

Bonuses: Sumlin will receive bonuses for academic and on-field success. The extras range from $25,000 (for making a bowl game and finishing the season ranked between No. 19 and No.25 nationally) to $500,000 for playing in the CFP National Championship Game and $1 million for winning it. 

Notable perk: Sumlin will receive 45 hours of private-jet time to use in recruiting.

That’s weird: Sumlin’s contract includes a one-year non-compete clause within the Pac-12. The coach is forbidden from taking a job with another conference team for one year after he stops coaching at Arizona, regardless of the reason for his departure.

Buyout: Arizona must pay Sumlin $10 million if he is fired without cause in the first two years of his deal. The buyout figures drop to $7.5 million in 2020 and $5 million in 2021. Similarly, Sumlin must pay the UA $10 million if he leaves in the first two years of his deal, with those figures dropping to $5 million in Year 3, $3 million in Year 4 and $1 million in Year 5.

Mitigation clause? Yes. Sumlin and the university agreed that he must seek employment if he is terminated by the UA, and whatever he makes would lessen Arizona’s remaining buyout to him. More details will be available when his contract is made public next week.

Morals clause? Likely. Sumlin’s contract has not yet been made public, though he and the UA agreed to the basic terms, perks and buyout structure last week. The Arizona Board of Regents is expected to include more protections in the “firing for cause” portion of the deal, however.

New coach: Herm Edwards

Contract terms: 5 years, $12.5 million

Details: Edwards will make $2 million in 2018 and an additional $250,000 in each subsequent season through 2022.

Bonuses: Edwards will receive 10 percent of his annual salary if he wins the Pac-12 South, 20 percent of his annual salary if he wins the conference title game, 40 percent if he makes the national championship game and 50 percent if the Sun Devils win it all. Edwards’ other bonuses range from 1 percent of his annual salary for finishing in a postseason top-25 poll to $500,000 for winning 12 games in a season. Edwards receives a whopping $300,000 if his team finishes with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Notable perk: Edwards receives free golf at the ASU Golf Course, and will be reimbursed for all country club dues and fees should he choose to join one.

That’s weird: Edwards must pay ASU up to $75,000 in damages if he is fired for breaking NCAA or Pac-12 Conference rules.

Buyout: ASU will pay Edwards the remaining money left on his deal if he is fired without cause. Edwards must pay ASU $1 million to break his contract; even if he chooses to leave the Devils, Edwards is not permitted to coach at a Pac-12 school until at least 2023.

Mitigation clause? Yes. Edwards’ buyout will be reduced by half if he is then named head coach at another Power 5 Conference school.

Morals clause: Unclear. The Regents have approved the framework of Edwards' deal, but are still working with his attorney to finalize it. The contract will be made public when it is official.

New coach: Mario Cristobal

Contract terms: 5 years, $12.5 million

Details: Cristobal, who was promoted from interim head coach to the full-time job in December, will make exactly $2.5 million per year through 2022.

Bonuses: Cristobal’s bonuses range from $25,000 (for being named Pac-12 coach of the year) to $500,000 (for winning a national title). He receives $100,000 for appearing in any bowl game, with a caveat: the Ducks must have at least seven regular-season wins for the bonus to vest.

Notable perk: Cristobal receives a membership to the Eugene Country Club — or, if there are no memberships available, to a similar club of his choosing. Cristobal’s wife and children receive free travel to road games and membership in the Downtown Athletic Club. Cristobal receives two company cars — though he can take $500 in cash per car per month if he chooses drive his own ride.

That’s weird: Cristobal receives 12 tickets to every UO home game — and four tickets to all other Oregon home games, regardless of sport.

Buyout: Oregon will owe Cristobal half the money remaining on his contract if he is fired. Cristobal would owe Oregon $10 million if he leaves for another job in Year 1, with that figure dropping by $2 million each year he is employed with the Ducks.

Mitigation clause? Yes. Oregon’s buyout is “limited by the Coach’s duty to actively seek and obtain employment post-termination.” The university will not pay Cristobal if his new job pays the same, or more, as what he was making with the Ducks.

Morals clause? Cristobal is required to follow all university and state rules and regulations; if he sees a violation, he is obligated to report it within seven days. Further, “Coach will also comply with the University’s reporting obligations relating to prohibited discrimination, the Clery Act and the abuse of minors.”

New coach: Jonathan Smith

Contract terms: 5 years, $9.5 million

Details: Smith will make $950,000 in base pay and $950,000 in annual non-salary compensation every year through 2022.

Bonuses: Smith can earn bonuses ranging from $25,000 (for making a bowl game) to $400,000 (for winning a national championship). Smith will get an extra $100,000 for making the Pac-12 championship game. Smith’s contract also lays out bonuses for academic performance.

Notable perk: Smith receives two company cars, a country club membership, free travel for his family to road games and up to $79,167 — one month’s salary — in moving expenses. Smith and his family aren’t moving far: They lived in Seattle before he took the job in the November.

That’s weird: Smith’s contract stipulates that his assistants will make $3.3 million total.

Buyout: Oregon State will pay Smith $950,000 for each year left on his deal if he is fired without cause. If Smith is hired by another school, he will owe Oregon State between $3.5 million and $1 million depending on how much is left on his deal.

Mitigation clause? No. Smith is under no obligation to seek employment if he is fired by Oregon State.

Morals clause? Smith is expected to follow all university policies and procedures.

New coach: Chip Kelly

Contract terms: 5 years, $23.3 million

Details: Kelly will make $300,000 per year in base pay and between $3 million and $4.3 million per year as part of an “annual talent fee” through 2022. Kelly’s talent fee for 2018 is $3 million.

Bonuses: Kelly can earn between $10,000 (for winning six games in a season) to $200,000 (for winning a national title). Kelly will also receive bonuses if his team has an Graduation Success Rate of more than 70 percent and an APR score of more than 930.

Notable perk: Kelly gets use of a luxury box at the Rose Bowl.

That’s weird: Kelly will not accrue vacation or sick time while at UCLA, but can be granted time off by the athletic director if he requests it.

Buyout: UCLA will pay Kelly $9 million if he is fired in Years 1-4 of his contract. Kelly must pay UCLA the same amount — $9 million — if he leaves for any reason.

Mitigation clause? No.

Morals clause? Kelly is required to “promote a culture of diversity and inclusion” and “lead the Football team with integrity.”