The University of South Florida will pay Rob Higgins, the first person to hold the title of CEO of Athletics at USF or any school, at least $850,000 annually in guaranteed pay, according to contract language obtained by The Oracle student newspaper.
According to sports editor Mithil Vyas, The Oracle obtained the contract information on Nov. 7 — nearly three weeks after requesting it and a more than a month after Higgins' first day on the job.
Higgins is paid a $500,000 base salary and $350,000 in supplemental compensation tied to media work, fundraising and promotional duties, according to the agreement. That $850,000 total matches the package former vice president of athletics Michael Kelly was to be paid this year until he left to become athletic director at Navy in June.
"Kelly worked under a more traditional model with a rising base salary, annual lump sum bonuses and a smaller conference-related payout," Vyas wrote. "But Higgins’ deal structures his pay differently, as it incorporates broader performance benchmarks and includes a substantial incentive tied to conference realignment."
To that point, if USF joins a Power Four conference, Higgins is due a bonus of $500,000, doubling the amount in Kelly's contract.
Other bonuses outlined by Vyas include:
- $50,000 for a football conference championship
- $50,000 if the athletic department’s annual Academic Progress Report equals or exceeds a score of 970.
- $25,000 if football finishes in the Top 25 of the AP or USA Today Coaches Poll rankings.
Higgins will also receive a $10,000 signing bonus, a $1,000 monthly car stipend and a membership at Avila Golf and Country Club “for the purposes of supporting University Advancement,” Vyas reported.
