Mike Riley is returning to Oregon State at a highly discounted rate while receiving a hefty buyout from Nebraska.

The assistant head coach and tight ends coach will earn $50,004 per year as part of a two-year contract that will last through the 2019 season, along with a $35,000 signing bonus, according to a copy of the contract obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive via a public records request.

While Riley is taking a massive pay cut, he will still be well-compensated for the next few years. According to the Omaha World-Herald, Riley is owed $170,000 per month through the end of his Nebraska contract, for a total of $6.63 million through February 2021.

The deal for Riley, who is in his third stint at OSU and already owns a house in Corvallis, allows the athletic department to spread more money around for other assistant coaches on staff.

Oregon State has $3.3 million available for assistant coach salaries, according to a memorandum of understanding head coach Jonathan Smith signed in November. Smith's full contract has not yet been made available.

While the $3.3 million salary pool is more than the approximately $2.59 million OSU had available for assistant salaries during the 2017 season, the money will be spread across 10 coaches instead of nine. A new NCAA rule went into effect this week allowing football teams to bring on a 10th assistant coach.

Contracts made available through records requests show the Beavers have increased their annual spending on other assistant coaches.

Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Brian Lindgren will earn $500,004 annually in base salary as part of a three-year deal through the 2020 season. Last season, offensive coordinator Kevin McGiven earned $375,000. For comparison, Smith made $700,008 as the Washington offensive coordinator last season, according to USA Today.

Associate head coach and offensive line coach Jim Michalczik will earn $425,004 annually in base salary as part of a two-year deal through the 2019 season. Last season, offensive line coach T.J. Woods earned $375,000.

Special teams coach Jake Cookus will earn $200,004 annually as part of a two-year contract.

Head football strength and conditioning coach Mike McDonald will also earn $200,004 per year. Evan Simon, who was in his third season in the role when he left for Davidson College in October, earned $150,000 per year.

Based on football coaching salaries alone, OSU plans to spend $40,032 less for the 2018 season than in 2017 since Smith is making $1.9 million per year. Former head coach Gary Andersen had been set to earn $2.65 million last year before he parted ways with the school six games into the season.

Contracts for defensive coordinator Tim Tibesar, defensive line coach Legi Suiaunoa, inside linebackers coach Trent Bray, defensive backs coach Greg Burns, running backs coach Michael Pitre and wide receivers coach Kefense Hynson have not yet been released.

Based on Smith's memorandum of understanding, Oregon State has more than $2.12 million available to pay the remaining assistants.

-- Danny Moran