Rutgers has fired Chris Ash, but it will still be paying him for the next three-plus years.

Ash was dismissed Sunday, a day after the Scarlet Knights fell to 8-32 during his tenure with an ugly 52-0 loss at No. 20 Michigan, in a story first reported on NJ Advance Media’s Rutgers Sports Insider. As athletics director Pat Hobbs goes about hiring a replacement, the university’s remaining financial obligation to Ash may (or may not) play a role in that process.

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In a press release announcing Ash’s dismissal after the news was first reported by NJ Advance Media, the university said Ash’s and fired offensive coordinator John McNulty’s contracts “will be honored by Rutgers Athletics, exclusively using department-generated funds.”

Here is a look at where Rutgers stands with Ash and his contract now that he has been terminated:

HOW MUCH DOES RUTGERS OWE ASH?

Ash is still due approximately $8.47 million in bi-weekly paychecks now that he has been fired. Ash will need to agree to a separation agreement with Rutgers before his post-termination pay begins, according to his contract.

WHERE DOES THAT NUMBER COME FROM?

Ash was in the middle of the second year of a five-year deal when he was fired, with three years left after the current one ended. Ash was scheduled to make $2.3 million during this current contract year, which ends on Feb. 28, 2020, plus a combined $7.5 million in the three years remaining on his contract after this current year. He has scheduled compensation figures of $2.4 million, $2.5 million and $2.6 million in the final three years on the deal.

The university owes Ash approximately $974,000 to complete this current contract year, according to an NJ Advance Media analysis. That figure, plus the $7.5 million for the three years after, brings the total buyout number to close to $8.5 million.

IS RUTGERS REALLY ON THE HOOK FOR THAT MUCH?

It’s unlikely, but according to the terms of his contract, yes. Now that Ash is fired, he is “required to exert reasonable efforts to secure other employment consistent with [his] background, skills and experience," according to his contract. Once Ash gets a new job, “Rutgers shall immediately be entitled to offset the remaining post-termination pay by the income [Ash] earns in the new employment position.”

What that means? Say Ash gets hired as the defensive coordinator at another Power 5 program in December and he signs a contract that pays him $500,000 for the 2020 season/contract year. That would mean Rutgers would only need to pay him $1.9 million next year, because that figure plus the salary for his new position amounts to the $2.4 million he was scheduled to make at Rutgers.

Rutgers will likely recoup some of Ash’s buyout through salary offsets. But Ash could take time off or take a low-paying job, which would force Rutgers to pay out close to or the full compensation.

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BONUSES? BENEFITS?

Ash should not be eligible for any bonuses going forward. The Scarlet Knights will not achieve any on-field results that come with defined bonuses in his contract, and the contract stipulates he must be the head coach at the time of an academic achievement to be eligible for the defined bonus. Now that Ash has been fired, the contract states he is not “eligible, nor will receive, any university or New Jersey state benefit.”

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James Kratch may be reached at jkratch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JamesKratch. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.