Willie Taggart’s FSU contract details

Former Manatee High quarterback and Palmetto native Willie Taggart completed his lifelong dream to join Florida State University’s football program when the Seminoles introduced him as their next head coach on Wednesday.

After Wednesday’s press conference, FSU officials released details on Taggart’s contract with the Noles.

He’s under contract through Jan. 31, 2024, after signing a six-year deal worth $30 million, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.

The Democrat reported that if FSU fires Taggart at any point, he will receive 85 percent of what he’s owed on the contract, with monthly payments. Should Taggart, who left his alma mater Western Kentucky for South Florida and then left the Bulls last December for Oregon, decide to leave FSU early, it will cost him $5 million, according to the Democrat.

FSU will pay Taggart’s $3 million buyout to Oregon and the remaining $1.37 million that Oregon paid to USF for bringing Taggart to the Pacific Northwest last year.

In addition to the $30 million over six years, Taggart has various bonuses coming his way pending on-field success:

• Win national title — $500,000
• Make national title game — $250,000
• Make national semifinals — $250,000
• Make New year’s Six Bowl — $175,000
• Win ACC title — $150,000
• Make ACC title game — $100,000
• Undefeated season — $100,000
• Make bowl with 7-plus wins — $100,000
• National coach of the year — $75,000
• Make bowl — $50,000
• ACC coach of the year — $50,000

Taggart also is set to receive bonuses for academic achievements from his players. The Academic Progress Rate (APR) is the NCAA’s way to measure how a program has done with its athletes reaching graduation over a rolling four-year period.

Within that, single-year APR scores (the higher, the better) get Taggart the following bonuses:

• Single-year APR of 1,000 — $250,000
• Single-year APR over 990 — $200,000
• Single-year APR over 975 — $175,000
• Single-year APR over 950 — $100,000

The Democrat reported that Taggart is not eligible for any bonuses if FSU finishes with an APR below 930 for multiple seasons. Taggart’s contract with FSU also enables him to distribute $5.5 million to 10 assistant coaches, according to the Democrat.

This story was originally published December 6, 2017 at 2:56 PM with the headline "Willie Taggart’s FSU contract details."