Nick Mingione's salary: All we know about Kentucky baseball HC’s current contract
Nick Mingione is enjoying the College World Series as probably unlike any other coach. The Kentucky coach brought his school to its first appearance in the famed Omaha tournament, and not only that, but they aren't doing half bad. The Lexington school defeated NC State 5-4 in its first game in the CWS.
Speaking to the press in the aftermath of the game, Mingione said about the success of his team throughout the year:
“This team has so many strengths, but the one thing — not the one thing — but one of their many qualities is their ability to focus on the task at hand and move on immediately, it is an absolute joy and pleasure to coach these guys because — you know this, but we started out 14-1 in the league. That is next to impossible. It’s next to impossible.”
His team's success has brought personal accolades to the coach and a significant increase in his paycheck.
Nick Mingione has a $705,000 base salary, but you have to add $300,000 in bonuses this year. That's $100,000 for hosting a super regional and $200,000 for making the CWS. If he wins the CWS, he would earn an additional $50,000. Winning pays off.
What's Nick Mingione's buyout clause at Kentucky?
Wildcats fans shouldn't be worried about Mingione suddenly leaving the school. If he does so, he would be forced to pay $3.82 million to the University of Kentucky.
That's equivalent to his entire salary at Lexington so far. Don't expect Mingione to have that kind of money any time soon unless he leaves for the MLB (that would be a plot twist for the ages).
In any case, it doesn't seem like Mingione is done at Kentucky. In a series of remarks published on Sunday in the Herald-Leader, a local Kentucky newspaper, Nick Mingione was quoted as saying:
“I’m also really happy for (athletics director) Mitch Barnhart, the guy’s done amazing things, not just for our baseball program. … He has stood the test of time. I always say he’s been under a bunch of attacks. And I say his skin is so scarred over you guys can’t get him anymore because he’s just so tough.
"But he built this place. This room you’re sitting in, this facility. This is long before Nick Mingione ever came. He built this place and invested in it and just envisioned this could be possible. And what he’s done for all of our sports has been truly remarkable.”
Kentucky will play again on Monday against the Texas A&M Aggies at night. The game is set to start at 7 p.m. ET, and it will air through ESPN.