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  • Lexington HeraldLeader

    EKU’s men’s and women’s basketball coaches both have new contracts. Here are the details.

    By Cameron Drummond,

    9 hours ago

    In our Reality Check stories, Herald-Leader journalists dig deeper into questions over facts, consequences and accountability. Read more. Story idea? hlcityregion@herald-leader.com.

    New Eastern Kentucky University athletics director Kyle Moats is only a few days into his new job leading the Colonels’ athletic programs.

    But, Moats arrives in Richmond with two of his highest-profile head coaches having already agreed to updated contracts with EKU this offseason.

    Prior to Moats’ arrival, both men’s basketball head coach A.W. Hamilton and women’s basketball head coach Greg Todd agreed to new contracts with EKU.

    The Herald-Leader obtained the new contracts for both Hamilton and Todd via the Kentucky Open Records Act.

    Here are the key details of the new agreements between Eastern Kentucky and the two coaches.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1uxR6c_0uD3OFFj00
    Last season, EKU men’s basketball coach A.W. Hamilton led the Colonels to the Atlantic Sun Conference regular season championship. This was the first regular season conference title for the EKU men’s basketball team since 1979. Ryan C. Hermens/rhermens@herald-leader.com

    EKU men’s basketball coach A.W. Hamilton gets one-year extension

    In May 2023, Hamilton had his contract with EKU reworked after he led the Colonels to a 23-win season during the 2022-23 campaign, which concluded with an appearance in the College Basketball Invitational championship game.

    This offseason, Hamilton has received a one-year contract extension from EKU following a 2023-24 season in which the Colonels went 12-4 in Atlantic Sun Conference regular season games and won that league’s regular season championship.

    With this one-year extension, Hamilton’s contract as the EKU men’s basketball head coach now runs through April 2028.

    Hamilton’s contract calls for him to receive $350,000 per year to coach the Colonels, a figure that includes a $25,000 retention bonus Hamilton is set to receive each Aug. 1 that he is still the head coach.

    The one-year contract extension between EKU and Hamilton was signed by former EKU athletics director Matt Roan on May 13. Roan’s final day in that post was May 15. Roan is now the athletics director at James Madison University.

    According to Hamilton’s contract with EKU, which was originally signed in May 2023, he would receive a bonus of at least $50,000 for taking EKU to the NCAA Tournament. The Colonels last appeared in March Madness in 2014.

    Also according to Hamilton’s contract, he was to receive a $30,000 bonus payment following the 2023-24 season because the Colonels won the Atlantic Sun regular season championship last season This marked EKU’s first regular season conference championship since 1979.

    EKU was the top seed for last season’s Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament, but lost at home in the quarterfinals to 10-seed Jacksonville.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=17ejgf_0uD3OFFj00
    EKU women’s basketball coach Greg Todd just agreed to a new contract with the school following his third season leading the Colonels. Saul Young/USA Today Network

    Greg Todd signs new contract as Eastern Kentucky women’s basketball coach

    Also in May 2024, EKU women’s basketball head coach Greg Todd agreed to a new contract with the school.

    Todd’s new contract with EKU runs until May 14, 2028.

    Todd’s contract calls for him to receive $200,000 per year to coach the Colonels, a figure that includes a $10,000 retention bonus that Todd is set to receive each year that he is the head coach of the team on Aug. 1.

    Additionally, Hamilton’s contract calls for a bonus payment of at least $20,000 if EKU participates in the NCAA Tournament while he is the head coach. EKU women’s basketball last played in March Madness in 2005.

    If EKU were to fire Todd from his position for cause, the school wouldn’t be responsible for making any payments to him beyond the end of the month in which Todd is fired for cause.

    If EKU were to fire Todd without cause on or before March 31, 2026, then the school would owe him $190,000.

    If EKU were to fire Todd without cause on or after April 1, 2026, then the school would owe him a prorated amount that begins at $190,000, but drops by $15,833 “for every month that Todd works in the last year” of the contract.

    The amount EKU would owe Todd could be lessened or wiped away completely if Todd obtains new employment at another school, based upon what his annual salary at that new school is.

    If Todd terminates his contract with EKU without cause on or before May 15, 2025, then he would owe the school $190,000.

    If Todd terminates his contract with EKU without cause after May 15, 2025, then he would owe the school a prorated amount that would start at $190,000, and decreases by $15,833 “for every month Todd works in the last year” of the contract.

    According to Todd’s contract, he would not owe EKU any money if he left his post during his contract for retirement or a position outside of coaching.

    An EKU alumnus, Todd has a 55-42 record across three seasons with the Colonels after previously coaching Morehead State for seven seasons.

    Last season, EKU went 22-12 overall and played in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament, which was the first national postseason tournament for the Colonels since 2013.

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