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Arkansas Has Stopped Paying Bret Bielema Buyout & He Is Not Happy
© Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
Arkansas fired Bret Bielema back in November 2017, but by the terms of his contract the school still had to pay him $11.8 million. The Razorbacks did stick that agreement, paying him $320,833.33 every month until until Dec. 31, 2018, but nothing since. He and his lawyer are now fighting the school and most likely heading to court to fight the matter soon. Per footballscoop.com...
quote:

Bielema would not receive that in a lump sum, though. The terms of his contract stated he would be paid $320,833 a month, every month, through the end of 2017 and all of 2018, 2019 and 2020 — on one condition. Bielema had to pursue gainful employment elsewhere.

Bielema joined the New England Patriots organization for the 2018 season as a consultant to head coach Bill Belichick. Arkansas continued paying Bielema’s buyout through 2018, but stopped once the calendar flipped to 2019.

The coach has since been promoted to the Patriots’ defensive line coach, but the school believes it is free from its contractual obligation to pay Bielema for the final two years of his contract, saving nearly $7.7 million in the process, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Bert!!!!!!!



he was fired at Arkansas in November 2017 until Dec. 31, 2018, the Foundation paid him $320,833.33 every month, but nothing since.

He would have received 37 of those payments totaling $11,935,000.
Filed Under: Arkansas Sports
51 Comments
user avatar
Statestreet54 months
Has Arkansas considered just giving up on the football thingy?
user avatar
LSUNV54 months
Bobby Petrine was fired with cause which negates his contract and any obligation by the university
user avatar
RazorBroncs54 months
There are a lot of people here that think they're smarter or more informed on this than Arkansas' own team of lawyers. They stopped payment for a reason, a well-informed reason at that. It has to do with the language in the contract stating he had to pursue head coaching positions, not sure of the specifics beyond that. Bielema didn't hold up that end of the deal, so Arkansas' lawyers cut him off. This will get settled in a court in Arkansas, and how do think that might go? I can assure you the university has a whole team of top-notch lawyers that made these decisions and are ready to fight it.
user avatar
Tchefuncte Tiger54 months
What makes Arkansas think they're no longer obligated to pay Bielema?
user avatar
3down1054 months
Nothing makes a coach want to come to your school like dicking the previous coaches on their contracts. Dumbasses.
user avatar
RECConspiracy54 months
That's a great point. Didn't consider that.
user avatar
stho38154 months
This will go to court and get settled for a smaller sum than the 7.7mil that Arky still owes. They'll prob pay 4mil and walk out saving 3.7 mil. Arky might lose the court battle, but they will save money.
user avatar
tide0654 months
Why would he settle? They are in breach, period. He might end up with additional damages added on and lawyer fees.
user avatar
Horsemeat54 months
They'll save the money, but good luck hiring a top level coach ever again - its a terrible look on the entire program.
user avatar
Datbayoubengal54 months
Should have been pursuing HC gigs he knew he likely wouldn't get instead of simple position coach gigs. I'd definitely take him as a OL coach at LSU. Arkansas and Wisconsin always had a great OL under him.
user avatar
TFH54 months
Are you high? OL was one of the worst positions at Arkansas under fat Bert
user avatar
Drewbie54 months
OL was only good at Arkansas when Pittman was there. When he left our line went to complete shite. Bert is absolutely nothing without better coaches to pick up his slack. He was nothing without Alvarez and he was nothing without Pittman and Enos.
user avatar
tide0654 months
Arkansas, you know you are going to lose this in court right? Bad look too for a school about to be looking for another coach.
user avatar
idlewatcher54 months
That is crazy money. With as bad as Arky still is, they should’ve just kept him employed
user avatar
Miganey54 months
Absolutely
user avatar
6R1254 months
See why these massive buy outs are crazy.
user avatar
Hangit54 months
Bert finna eat.
user avatar
Big Sway54 months
frick R Kansa
user avatar
Coonass54 months
Where do you guys get the belief this is because he didn’t pursue a HC job? It’s not about that at all. It’s about pursuing a job, versus getting a job (any job). He got a new job in 2018 and ARK paid him through 2018. He was no longer pursuing a job. Hence, no more payments. I’m sure the contract is much more detailed than the terms in that excerpt, but it must not be clear OR it is clear and Bert doesn’t know his contract. Look at Miles final buyout. He took it because his salary at KU would be offset against his buyout, likely making it close to a wash, hence taking the discounted buyout.
user avatar
4Ghost54 months
This is worthless without a pic of Jen.
user avatar
vodkacop54 months
Not as good as Bobby B's contract but not to shabby. Looks like Ar-Kansas cant honor their word or contract
user avatar
kywildcatfanone54 months
$320K a month not to do anything. I'm doing it wrong. Pay for coaches is beyond ridiculous.
user avatar
Arksulli54 months
So, we have quite a few folks babbling that he found work as a D-line coach in the NFL! Bah gawd he did everything he could! Yeah. He found that job only after Arkansas cut him off. So. There we go. I know, I know, you want to poke fun at us for this. But we did what every school should do in this situation. You will note that it did not take long for Bert to land a position with a higher paycheck once we cut him off.
user avatar
BiggDogg5354 months
You are putting out bad info...your old coach is being payed 50 grand per season as d-line coach with the patriots...he was making that same amount long before arky decided to cut him off....
user avatar
Arksulli54 months
No. He was paid under 50K before this as a consultant because anything under 50K didn't count against his settlement. Only after we cut him off did he get the D-Line job. You are, in fact, full of shite.
user avatar
BiggDogg5354 months
Got a question for ya..Is this money coming out of your pocket?
user avatar
Miznoz54 months
This is probably a desperate reach so they can fire Morris sooner! Dumpster fire.
user avatar
CFFreak54 months
So, Bert likes his groceries... who doesn't?
user avatar
TigerintheNO54 months
Not a good look if you are about to be hiring a new coach. They didn't pay Petrino either when they fired.
user avatar
Drewbie54 months
Probably because Petrino literally broke the law, but don't let that stop your narrative.
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