MORGANTOWN — Darian DeVries’ five-year deal with West Virginia is worth $15 million in compensation, but also includes an interesting extension clause.
DeVries, who spent the last six seasons at Drake University, will earn $2.8 million for the 2024-25 season, and each additional season will add another $100,000 to his total.
The Dominion Post received a copy of the employment agreement Tuesday through a Freedom of Information Request.
An employment agreement is still an official and binding document, but DeVries’ contract will hold more details. He is expected to sign an official contract at a later date.
DeVries is signed through the end of the 2028-29 season, but that may change if he is able to produce a quick turnaround with the Mountaineers.
That’s because of an Automatic Extension Clause in the contract that states if WVU finishes in the top six (including tiebreakers) of the Big 12 — the league balloons to 16 teams next season — in any of his first two seasons, the deal will automatically be extended for one season.
That possible extension would also be worth an additional $100,000, meaning his total deal could go up to $18.3 million.
It’s a contract that is in the same neighborhood that Michigan recently gave to former Florida Atlantic coach Dusty May. Michigan signed May to a five-year deal worth $18.75 million, or $3.75 million annually.
If DeVries hits the automatic extension, he would earn an average of $3.05 million over six years.
WVU went 9-23 last season under interim coach Josh Eilert, and the Mountaineers haven’t finished in the top six of the Big 12 since the 2020-21 season, so DeVries has his work cut out for him.
The school will also pay DeVries $100,000 for relocation purposes and will also pay his buyout at Drake — located in Des Moines, Iowa — although it’s not stated what that amount is.
His deal includes a standard incentives package, the same that was in former coach Bob Huggins’ contract.
DeVries would earn an extra $430,000 for winning a national championship at WVU, as well as $40,000 for winning the Big 12 tournament.
He would earn $30,000 for winning Big 12 coach of the year, $20,000 if season-ticket sales exceed 6,000, among others.
As for the buyout, if WVU were to terminate the deal without cause, it would owe DeVries 75% of his remaining salary through the end of his deal. That figure can be reduced if DeVries were to take a new job.
If DeVries were to terminate the deal and leave for another job, his buyout to WVU would be 37.5% of his remaining salary through the end of the deal.
WVU athletic director Wren Baker has been on a coaching search ever since Huggins resigned last June following a DUI arrest in Pittsburgh.
He signed Eilert for one year, but continued to keep an active list of potential candidates.
He first met with DeVries on a Zoom call, and then met with him in person in Omaha, Neb., last week, as Drake was preparing to play in the NCAA tournament.
DeVries’ signature on the letter is dated March 24, the same day WVU announced his hiring. It came three days after the Bulldogs were eliminated in the first round by Washington State.
In his six seasons at Drake, DeVries finished 150-55, and he led the school to the NCAA tournament in three of the last four seasons.
DeVries will be introduced as the 23rd Mountaineers head coach on Thursday.
Note
** WVU guard Seth Wilson entered his name into the transfer portal Tuesday.
Wilson played three seasons with the Mountaineers and scored 278 points over 82 games. He has one season of eligibility remaining.
