UCF recently released contract details about the newly hired women’s basketball coach, Gabe Lazo.
The Knights’ interest in Lazo was clearly related to his prowess as a recruiter and his Florida connections. His personality was on display when he was introduced to the public three weeks ago. The former Tennessee assistant coach proved that his focus on connectivity isn’t just coach speak or jargon. It is his mission as he has recruited a roster thus far that has sparked excitement unrivaled in UCF’s time as a power-conference school.
Despite Lazo’s charm at the podium and on the recruiting trail, there are still some critics surrounding his experience as a head coach in the college ranks. However, when one examines the terms of his contract with UCF, it may be a benefit of the hire rather than a concern.
A New Contract For a New Era
In an era of college athletics when Athletic Director Terry Mohajir is forced to be fiscally thrifty, Lazo’s contract is more favorable than that of his predecessor, Sytia Messer. In her first year, Messer pulled in $625,000, and that amount increased by $25,000 each season. At the time of her hiring, Messer’s starting salary was 35th among women’s basketball programs in the nation. Mohajir took a different approach regarding Lazo’s.
Lazo’s contract has a considerably lower starting point and is more results-driven than Messer’s. The deal is structured for five years, with the final two years currently not guaranteed. However, should Lazo lead the team to 20 or more wins (including conference tournament games) in a season, both the fourth and fifth years are guaranteed. The guarantee also locks in if the team is selected for the NCAA tournament in any of those first three years. The way Lazo’s contract is structured, he would not reach Messer’s initial salary until his fourth season.
While the goal for any college basketball team is to participate in March Madness, this contract emphatically states that this is the target for the program’s future.
