Group of 5🛡️ Vulnerable Stability (2/5)

Charles Kelly

Head Football Coach • Jacksonville State (Gamecocks)

Current Buyout Owed (Today)

$3,470,833

39 months remaining (1202 days)

Annual Salary

$1,000,000

Base + Supplemental Talent

Contract Expires

2029-12-31

Hired: 2024-12-08

Coach Leaves Buyout

$1,000,000

Owed if leaving for NFL / Rival

Daily Amortization

$2,327

Buyout drops each day

University Firing Coach (Without Cause)

School Owes Coach: $3,470,833

Contract buyout as tracked by USA Today Sports: $3,470,833.

Payment Structure:Annual Installments

Duty to Mitigate (Offsets):No (Guaranteed regardless of new job)

Total Remaining Unearned Salary:$3,290,897

Coach Departs Voluntarily (Poaching Clause)

Coach / Hiring School Owes: $1,000,000

If Charles Kelly accepts a position as head coach with another collegiate program or an NFL franchise prior to 2029-12-31, he or his new employer is legally bound to pay this liquidated departure penalty.

Departure Fee:$1,000,000

School Retention Leverage:Standard College Buyout

Coaching Stance & Contractual Security

Job Stability vs. The Hot Seat

How Our Two-Axis Model Works

0/5 Votes

Pending Fan Consensus

Tension Rating: Stability (2/5) • Hot Seat (Pending)

Contract Job Stability is rated Vulnerable Stability. Awaiting 5 more community vote(s) to officially establish the Hot Seat alignment.

Contract Job Stability

Level 2 / 5

Vulnerable Stability

Accessible Buyout Hurdle • $3,470,833 Buyout Firewall

Modest buyout relative to athletic revenues; university holds substantial financial leverage.

Contract Safeguard: Contract buyout as tracked by USA Today Sports: $3,470,833.

Mitigation Duty: None (fully guaranteed sum)

The Hot Seat (Community Consensus)

Consensus Building

Consensus Building0 / 5 Votes

Hot Seat score requires at least 5 votes to show, only 0 votes cast so far.

5 more votes needed to unlock public heat score. Cast your vote below!

Interactive Amortization Simulator for Charles Kelly

Interactive Financial Modeler

Simulate Termination Date & Buyout Cost

See how contract amortization, date milestones, and mitigation clauses reduce buyout liability over time.

Select Coach (Alphabetical by School)

Charles KellyUntouchable

Jacksonville State • Group of 5 • Contract thru 2029-12-31

Annual Salary

$1,000,000

Current Buyout (Today)

$3,470,833

Hypothetical Termination Date

Selected Date: 2026-09-16 (1202 days remaining on contract)

Or pick any exact date:

Buyout Owed on 2026-09-16

$3,470,833

Official USA Today Verified Buyout

Savings by Delaying to This Date

Natural amortization saves $2,327 / day

If Coach Leaves Voluntarily

$1,000,000

Amount coach / hiring team owes Jacksonville State

Duty to Mitigate (New Job Offset Analysis)

No Mitigation Required (Full Guarantee)

Important: Charles Kelly's contract does not mandate an affirmative duty to mitigate. Even if he takes another job paying millions tomorrow, Jacksonville State is legally obligated to continue paying the full buyout amount with zero offset!

Contract Calculation Formula:

USA Today FOIA benchmark: $3,470,833. Contract terms aligned with October 2025 baseline data.

💡 By waiting 6 months, natural salary amortization reduces buyout liability by ~$425K.

Key Contractual Stipulations

•Multi-year term through 2029
•Significant buyout provision for coach departure
•Performance-based bonus structure included
•Fixed annual salary compensation

Contract terms aligned with October 2025 baseline data.

Source & Public Records Citations

Verified Public & News Reference Sources (1):

Jacksonville State Head Coach Contract TermsJacksonville State Athletics Official Records • 2026-09-13

View Source

FOIA Verified: As an arm of state government, Jacksonville State releases employment agreements and board-approved amendments under public records legislation.

Other Head Coaches in the Group of 5