Neal Brown and West Virginia Discussing Contract Changes

Neal Brown

MORGANTOWN, West Virginia — Yes, Neal Brown could be in line for a raise and extension again after the West Virginia Mountaineers finished 9-4 with a bowl win over North Carolina.

On yesterday’s Sunday Sportsline, it was revealed that West Virginia University and head football coach Neal Brown are “potentially, potentially” in renegotiation talks concerning Brown’s contract with the university.

“There will be some news on Neal Brown’s contract soon. There is word leaking out from sources within MetroNews from the highest of levels that think there are renegotiations going on and that there could be an announcement during the week as to what that new contract could look like. The details are completely unknown, but it’s something to keep an eye on moving forward.”

The hosts went on to say, “If you are a ‘Trust the Climber’, that’s good news. If you are a ‘Climber Denier’, that is going to raise some eyebrows. You have to take a step back because you can’t allow…I mean, Neal Brown can’t go out and recruit unless there is some committment. That doesn’t mean that Neal Brown’s job is safe if the team goes off a cliff next year, but the devil is always in the details. The coach can have a 20 year contract, but if the buyout is minimal, then that’s a different story. You saw the Kansas head coach (Lance Leipold) receive a raise recently and is making $7 million a year, so the market value for Power 5, Big 12 Conference head coaches is going up.”

West Virginia cannot give Neal Brown an extension after leading the football program to the worst 5 year span in over four decades. Brown is 31-29 overall and has only had one acceptable season in Morgantown. With that said, it’s likely that Brown will receive a slight raise, perhaps an extension, but his buyout will be restructured so that it’s easier for the university to fire him if the team underperforms. Although Neal Brown has not gotten the job done as the head coach, a potential raise and extension with a new buyout clause might just be what’s best for everyone involved.

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Brad Smith
Brad Smith, "The Voice of Morgantown", is the most trusted, accomplished name in West Virginia sports journalism. Smith is the foremost, preeminent authority on West Virginia athletics and a lifelong fan of the Mountaineers. Smith, a proud graduate of West Virginia University, resides in Morgantown most of the year, but has a home in Jacksonville, Florida, where he lives during the winter.