Clemson makes Erik Bakich hire official. Contract details for new head baseball coach

Graham Neff said being the head baseball coach at Clemson is a top 15 job nationally and he was going to treat it as such when looking for his new head coach.

Clemson’s young athletic director backed up that claim on Thursday when Clemson’s Board of Trustees Compensation Committee approved the contract for Erik Bakich to be its new head baseball coach.

The board agreed to a compensation worth $6.25 million through the life of a six-year deal, including a $400,000 signing incentive.

“We are delighted to welcome Erik, Jiffy and their three children back to the Clemson Family,” Neff said in a release. “Erik impressed us with his integrity, his approach to running a program and the emphasis he puts into the student-athlete experience.”

Bakich can make up to $185,000 in performance incentives. He will make $850,000 in his first year with his annual salary increasing to $1.1 million by the end of the contract.

Clemson will host a 2 p.m. press conference Thursday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium to officially introduce Bakich as the Tigers’ 29th head baseball coach.

Bakich, who is 44 years old and has been at Michigan the last 10 seasons, is just the fourth man to lead the Clemson program since 1958. Bill Wilhelm led the program for 36 years from 1958-93, while Leggett was the head man for 22 years from 1994-2015.

Wilhelm took the Tigers to six College World Series appearances and won 1,161 games during his time at Clemson. Leggett also took Clemson to the CWS six times and won 955 games.

Monte Lee took over the program in the summer of 2015. In his seven seasons at Clemson, Lee’s teams were a combined 124-93 in ACC play and 242-136 overall.

Though Lee led Clemson to the 2016 ACC championship and hosted three regionals, the Tigers missed the last two NCAA tournaments which ultimately led to his dismal on May 31.

“(Bakich) knows well the expectations at Clemson, which he contributed to, through his role within the 2002 team and working alongside Jack Leggett, Tim Corbin and Kevin O’Sullivan, among others,” Neff said. “I am confident in Erik’s ability to compete for ACC Championships and return to Omaha and do it the right way.”

Clemson’s new head baseball coach is expected to make $900,000 in the second year of his contract, while earning $950,000 in year three. In year four, he will make $1 million with it increasing to $1,050,000 in year five and then $1.1 million in year six.

He can earn up to $10,000 for winning an ACC tournament championship, as well as $20,000 for earning the top seed in the tournament.

Bakich can earn another $10,000 for earning an NCAA tournament bid and an additional $15,000 for winning an NCAA regional. If the Tigers win a super regional, he will earn an additional $20,000 and another $25,000 for a College World Series appearance.

If Clemson were to win the national championship, Bakich will earn an extra $60,000. He can also earn an extra $10,000 for ACC Coach of the Year and another $10,000 for National Coach of the Year.

He also has an incentive clause worth $5,000 for a single-year APR score of 975.

Clemson’s new coach will also be eligible for another $250,000 retention bonus if he is still employed by Clemson on June 30, 2027.

Should Clemson terminate Bakich before June 30, 2025, it will provide 100 percent of total compensation due over the remaining term of the contract with Bakich’s requirement to mitigate.

If Bakich is terminated after June 30, 2025, and before June 30, 2028, Clemson will provide 50 percent of total compensation due over the remaining term of the contract with no requirement to mitigate.

The amount due to be paid, at Clemson’s option, in a lump sum or in monthly installments over the remaining term.

Should Bakich leave Clemson for another baseball program on or before June 30, 2025, he will pay Clemson an amount equal to 40 percent of total compensation due over the remaining term of the contract.

If he accepts to coach another baseball program after June 30, 2025, and before June 30, 2028, Bakich will pay Clemson 20 percent of total compensation due over the remaining term of the contract.

Bakich served as head coach at Michigan the last 10 seasons, leading the Wolverines to the 2019 College World Series championship series. Bakich also served as a head coach at Maryland (2010-12) and as an assistant coach at Vanderbilt (2003-09).

This story was originally published June 16, 2022 at 11:04 AM.