Colorado regents voted Friday to approve the three-year contract for new football defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot.
Hired last month, Eliot is set to make $700,000 annually over the next three years, through Dec. 31, 2019, making him the highest paid assistant coach in school history.
Two regents were not present at Friday’s meetings, but the seven who were there voted unanimously to approve the contract.
Eliot’s contract will pay him a base salary of $500,000. In addition, Eliot will receive $200,000 in supplemental salary — $100,000 for Nike sponsorship support and $100,000 for community outreach.
As with other coaches, Eliot will receive $7,500 to use on a membership to the Boulder Country Club and receive $2,500 worth of Nike products. CU will reimburse Eliot, who came to CU after four years at Kentucky, for moving expenses (up to $20,000).
If Eliot were to leave the Buffs prior to Dec. 31 of this year, he would owe CU $600,000 in liquidated damages. He would owe $300,000 if he leaves before Dec. 31, 2018, and $150,000 before Dec. 31, 2019.
An additional $100,000 will be added to those liquidated damages if Eliot leaves CU to take a position at another Pac-12 school. That clause was not written in the contract of Eliot’s processor, Jim Leavitt, who left CU in December to take the defensive coordinator job at Pac-12 rival Oregon.
Eliot’s liquidated damages would be reduced to $50,000 if Eliot leaves CU for a college head coaching job or a coordinator or head coaching job in the NFL.
Contact staff writer Brian Howell at howellb@dailycamera.com or twitter.com/BrianHowell33.
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