FARGO — North Dakota State could have probably written a few sentences on a bar napkin and Matt Entz would have signed it. As it is, the new Bison head football coach inked a five-year deal with the university that's in the neighborhood where his predecessor left off.

The 46-year-old Entz will make a base salary of $380,000 in his first year, which is similar to what Chris Klieman made before he left for Kansas State in January. A career assistant, it’s the first contract of this magnitude for the first-time head coach.

“There really wasn’t any negotiating,” Entz said. “I didn’t feel like I had anywhere to negotiate. I’m a first-time head football coach at what I consider one of the premier football schools in the country. I would have signed it regardless.”

Entz said Klieman was one of the first people he talked to about a contract. The bonuses of playoff victories, conference and national titles are nearly identical to what Klieman had. If Entz meets every performance bonus, which tops out at $44,500, he could make $419,500 next season.

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For instance, a national title game win is worth $15,000 and a Missouri Valley Football Conference championship carries a $10,000 reward. There are stipulations for playoff wins and a regular season of at least eight victories.

“Part of it are things, especially when you look at some of the things outside of salary, that are important for us,” said NDSU athletic director Matt Larsen. “One of them is winning eight games. That really is the mark. If we get eight wins, we’re probably going to get into the playoffs, especially out of the Valley.”

Klieman had a base package of $424,480 with bonuses that extended it to around $475,000 when he signed an extension in 2018.

Five-year contracts are standard operating procedure in Division I football. On Tuesday, Entz said that wasn’t a factor. He was probably more concerned about Wednesday morning’s practice, the fourth of 15 in Bison spring football.

“Personally, I don’t look at years a whole bunch,” he said. “I’m built the same way I’ve always been built and that is to make sure to take care of what needs to be done today. It’s one year at a time. Right now, the 2019 season is the only one that matters.”

Matt Entz contract by inforumdocs on Scribd

Broken down, Entz’s deal starts with a $300,000 annual salary. He has a $25,000 personal appearance fee, a $50,000 media appearance fee that increases by $5,000 each year and a minimum guarantee of $5,000 from summer camps.

Klieman had similar figures and commitments in his contract.

“Some of the numbers are different but in terms of mindset, all those things are pretty similar,” Larsen said.

Entz is required to participate in fundraising, booster socials, booster golf tournaments and media obligations. The athletic director and university president also have the power to assign further off-field duties.

Entz’s buyout prior to the final game of the 2020 season is the amount of the yearly contract, excluding fees and bonuses. The buyout is $150,000 after 2020.

Although not specified in the contract, the head Bison coach is given a country club membership and the use of a vehicle. Larsen said his guess of the total package still keeps Entz in the top 10 among FCS coaches “if you look at overall compensation.”

“It shows our commitment to Matt and our faith as to what he’s going to do as a head coach,” Larsen said.

Division I-wise, it's still light years behind most FBS schools. A USA Today study of 2018 head coaches would put Entz near the bottom in the FBS. Matt Viator of Louisiana-Monroe made $390,000 that season. Most FCS coaches make in the range of $200,000 to $300,000.