By the numbers: Athletic Department hires sign contracts with Southern Miss

The Department of Athletics at the University of Southern Mississippi underwent significant change this offseason, as Ellis Johnson, Donnie Tyndall and Jeff Hammond were hired as head football coach, head basketball coach and athletic director, respectively.

According to the employment contract made between the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning of the State of Mississippi and Johnson on Aug. 20, Johnson is signed to a four-year deal worth $1,300,000 and is slated to make a base salary of $325,000 per year.

Tyndall was also hired for four years on Apr. 28, earning a base salary of $135,000 per year.

When asked of his thoughts regarding the new head coaches, Hammond seemed optimistic about hiring Johnson and Tyndall.

“In the off-season we hired a new basketball and new football coach, and it’s my view that we made the right hires at the right time,” Hammond said.

Hammond was also hired in the off-season, as he signed a one-year contract worth $200,000 on July 20, according to the employment contract between the IHL and Hammond.

Other incentives of Johnson’s contract are as follows:

Additional compensation of $375,000 per year for “media income.”

Attendance incentive of $10,000, $15,000 and $25,000 for each year that home games draw an average attendance of 30,000, 31,000 and 32,000, respectively. The amounts are cumulative.

Performance incentive of $10,000, $30,000 or $50,000 for any contract year that the University football team achieves a final ranking of Top 25, Top 15 or Top 7, respectively. The ranking must be achieved in a national collegiate football poll equivalent to the USA Today Coaches Poll.