Ed Orgeron’s LSU contract has almost double the bonus incentives that Les Miles had

It’s been nearly four months since LSU’s Ed Orgeron officially was named the Tigers’ new head coach, after leading the team to a 5-2 record as the interim head coach after Les Miles’ firing in September. The announcement of Coach O’s full-time hiring, his first since his Ole Miss days from 2005-07, came a couple of days after a Thanksgiving victory over Texas A&M.

On Thursday, more details regarding Orgeron’s contract were released. According to Ross Dellenger of The Advocate, Coach O is set to receive $3.5 million a year for five years. But what’s more interesting from Dellenger’s report is that Orgeron’s contract includes incentive bonuses that are worth a lot more than what Miles had during his tenure in Baton Rouge.

Ed Orgeron’s contract with LSU includes more than $1.5 million in possible incentive bonuses — nearly double former coach Les Miles’ package — and a $12 million buyout this year.

Miles’ incentive package was worth $850,000, as part of his $4.3 million a year contract. When he was fired last season, his buyout was set at $9 million, which The Advocate adds will be paid to him in installments over six years. The other notable detail about the structuring of Orgeron’s contract is that the school was able to save money in the process, and use it toward the Tigers’ offensive and defensive coordinators.

The program saved $800,000 with Orgeron’s salary, funds the school used on coordinators Dave Aranda and Matt Canada. The duo is set to make a combined $3.3 million this year, believed to be more than any other coordinator duo in college football.

Orgeron’s $12 million buyout will decrease with each season he stays in Baton Rouge. It will go down to $8.5 million in 2018, $6 million in 2019, $4.5 million in 2020 and will drop to $1 million for the 2021 season.

Dellenger adds that Orgeron’s contract is expected to be approved by the LSU Board of Supervisors next Friday.