MSU’s head coach earns at least $180k in bonuses after historic football season

Montana State University football coach Brent Vigen earned more than a trophy after the Bobcats’ championship win earlier this week. That victory and other successes during the season brought the head coach at least an additional $180,000 — almost two-thirds of the amount of his base salary.

Vigen has the highest winning percentage of any MSU head football coach, according to the program’s website, and Monday’s victory marked the first time the Bobcats won a national title in 41 years.

Vigen, who became MSU’s head football coach in 2021, agreed to a new contract with the school in 2024. Under the contract, which ends in 2029, he makes an annual base salary of $295,000. The contract also includes more than 15 “annual performance incentives,” or bonuses that Vigen and his assistant coaches may earn if certain milestones are achieved. The incentives reward the coaching staff for things like earning a high team GPA, winning certain games or beating certain opponents. For reference, the annual salary of MSU President Brock Tessman is $455,802.

Below is a breakdown of the performance incentives Vigen has earned so far this season, according to MSU’s athletic department. Some incentives, like team GPA and graduation success rate, are not yet finalized.

• Playing an NCAA Bowl Championship team: $15,000
• Selling at least 12,000 cumulative season tickets: $15,000
• Recognized as Big Sky Conference coach of the year: $10,000
• Finish regular season as conference champions: $12,500
• Achieving eight wins in regular season and postseason: $7,500
• Achieving nine wins in regular season and postseason: $7,500
• Achieving 10 or more wins in regular and postseason: $7,500
• Qualifying for NCAA football championship sub-division playoff: $7,500
• Advance to second round of FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) playoffs: $7,500
• Advance to quarter-final round of FCS playoffs: $10,000
• Advance to semi-final round of FCS playoffs: $5,000
• Semi-final playoff game played at MSU: $10,000
• Advance to national championship game of NCAA FCS: $15,000
• Winning national championship of NCAA FCS: $50,000
• Disclosure: MSU president Brock Tessman is married to former MTFP deputy director and current part-time MTFP contractor Kristin Tessman. MTFP business staff do not have input into editorial coverage.