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ISU's McCarney gets raise Cyclones coach rewarded for team's first bowl in 22 years
AMES, Iowa (AP) -- Iowa State rewarded football coach Dan McCarney for the university's first winning season in 11 years with a new contract that doubles his salary. McCarney has agreed to a four-year contract that will pay him $600,000 annually. It runs through the 2004 season and replaces a contract that would have expired after next season. That contract paid McCarney $300,000 a year. "It's good to get it done," McCarney said Monday. "It's a relief. I'm very appreciative to the people here." McCarney has guided Iowa State to an 8-3 record, its first winning season in 11 years. The Cyclones will make their first bowl appearance since 1978 when they play Pittsburgh in the Insight.com Bowl in Phoenix on Dec. 28. The turnaround came after Iowa State had losing seasons in each of McCarney's first five seasons as coach, including a 1-10 record in 1997. "I think they realize we've done this the right way," McCarney said. "We've been through some real tough times based on where we started. But we've got a bright future here. "I'm really looking forward to building on this history-making season we've had starting on Dec. 28 and continuing in the years ahead. I'm very, very appreciative to the people here that gave us that opportunity." McCarney, 21-45 at Iowa State, will receive a base salary of $200,000 and another $400,000 guaranteed by the athletic department for shoe and apparel agreements, radio and television shows and endorsements. The contract was finalized at 9:30 p.m. Sunday. It includes an incentive package that would allow McCarney to earn more money for accomplishments such getting to the Big 12 championship game, going to a bowl game, getting to a BCS bowl, being named Big 12 or national coach of the year and for a strong graduation rate. It also contains a clause that would allow McCarney to renegotiate the contract if he has a winning team and attendance averages 45,000, athletic director Bruce Van De Velde said. McCarney said the university has guaranteed that his assistants will receive pay raises. He said he hopes that would prevent coaches from making lateral moves because other schools could offer more money. "We've had the best season in 22 years at this school," McCarney said. "They should get a good raise." Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, who has a 4-19 record, recently signed a contract that pays him $585,000 a year. Van De Velde said he kept that figure in mind while negotiating McCarney's contract. Iowa State has defeated Iowa three straight years after losing 15 consecutive games to the Hawkeyes. "Dan has done a great job making us very competitive in that series and I wanted to do something very similar for Dan," Van De Velde said. Van De Velde became Iowa State's athletic director in November and almost immediately jumped into contract negotiations with McCarney. He said the talks went smoothly. "I've been other places where it's been very difficult and it was not like that at all here," Van De Velde said. "That's a real credit to Dan and his representatives and to the people here on campus, too."
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