Mike Stoops

Newly appointed head football coach Mike Stoops could earn close to $1.2 million in salary and incentives, according to his five-year contract made available by the UA yesterday.

Stoops was hired last week to replace former UA head football coach John Mackovic and interim head coach Mike Hankwitz after the Arizona program suffered its first 10-loss season in school history, finishing 2-10 overall. The team also finished last in the Pacific 10 Conference for the first time ever with a 1-7 mark.

The deal will pay Stoops $650,000 to start - $350,000 in base salary and another $300,000 for radio and television appearances, speaking engagements and public appearances, according to the contract. The salary is $150,000 less than Mackovic's contract.

Stoops has spent the last five seasons as associate head coach and co-defensive coordinator at Oklahoma, currently the nation's top-ranked team. The Sooners, led by head coach Bob Stoops, Mike Stoops' brother, face Kansas State Saturday in the Big 12 Championship game in Kansas City, Mo. Stoops will be on the sidelines for the game, but will be in Tucson Dec. 8 to take over full-time duties at Arizona.

Oklahoma is expected play in the Nokia Sugar Bowl in January for a shot at the Bowl Championship Series title.

Stoops agreed Saturday to coach the Wildcats through 2008 - the same day UA athletics director Jim Livengood and president Peter Likins announced he had been named to the UA program's top position - pending approval by the Arizona Board of Regents. The contract is valid for one year until ABOR approves the terms.

Mackovic signed a five-year deal with the UA in January 2001, worth an initial sum of $800,000 per year. Mackovic was paid $200,000 in base coaching salary and another $600,000 for his role in off-field events and appearances.

Mackovic, who was fired on Sept. 28, will be paid a buyout of $1 million over the next four years.

Stoops' deal potentially could be worth more than $1.15 million per year, should the 41-year-old coach earn the maximum amount of incentives outlined by the contract. More than 30 incentives are available to Stoops, based on the Wildcats' on-field performance.

Incentives include $150,000 for leading Arizona to a berth in a BCS national title game, $40,000 for finishing in the top 10 of the final BCS standings and $80,000 for leading Arizona to a 12-0 regular season finish during his tenure, according to the contract. Other incentives are available if Stoops wins National or Pac-10 Coach of the Year honors.

Stoops could also earn another $60,000 if average paid attendance at Arizona Stadium reaches more than 50,000 people, and another $90,000 if more than 45,000 season tickets are sold for any given season.

Mackovic's contract offered to pay him up to $975,000 per year, including incentives of $50,000 for leading to the Wildcats to a BCS appearance in either the FedEx Orange Bowl, Nokia Sugar Bowl, Tostitos Fiesta Bowl or the Rose Bowl game. Mackovic would have made another $100,000 if the Wildcats won a national championship.

Mackovic could have been paid another $25,000 per year if he graduated 75 percent of his players or his team registered a 2.75 overall grade point average. But in order for Stoops to make the extra $25,000, his team must either earn an overall G.P.A. of 3.4 or have an 84 percent graduation rate.