Bohl signs 8-year extension with NDSU

FARGO — A new year, a new contract for Craig Bohl on Tuesday. The eight-year agreement virtually assures that the 10th-year North Dakota State head coach will not leave with the possible exception of a successful major program.

Bohl doesn’t comment on future employment chances, but he did give some rare insight into his thoughts on coaching at the higher level Football Bowl Subdivision, which has had 25 head coaching changes this year.

“A lot of times, a lot of zeros and commas behind the name do not necessarily translate into real satisfaction in your job,” he said. “This is a great place to coach, so I really appreciate the university’s commitment.”

Bohl said he lived in the FBS coaching world for 18 years as an assistant. Acknowledging there are high expectations at Football Championship Subdivision NDSU, he said some cohorts across the country are in situations that are not as rewarding.

Terms and bonuses from his previous contract, which had three years remaining, did not change much, with the exception of annual raises going from 4 percent to 5 percent.

His base salary this year will be $206,503. Bonuses include 3 percent of home regular-season ticket sales, $15,000 for an FCS title, $10,000 for an FCS runner-up finish, $10,000 for a Missouri Valley Football Conference title, $5,000 for each FCS home playoff game and $2,500 for each road playoff game.

The contract includes provisions for the assistant coaches to receive bonuses for playoff games and national and league titles. It also states the yearly budget for assistant coach salaries shall be in the top 10 percent of FCS programs.

Also, if Bohl stays at NDSU all eight years, a provision could keep him at the school in another capacity. It says the athletic department would negotiate in good faith and administrative-type position that would pay him 50 percent of his base salary at the end of the contract.

— Jeff Kolpack

Tags: sports, bison, football