CCU football coach Moglia’s new contract draws attention of national publication

USA Today has chosen a few details of Coastal Carolina’s new contract with head football coach Joe Moglia to feature in an article about odd contract quirks for college football coaches.

The university and Moglia agreed to an extension through the 2020 season that was finalized in mid-September.

The article that was published last week focuses on the depth of the power Moglia has over the football program, including his authority as a DJ.

The contract gives Moglia “complete management over” the football program and related operations including “signage in varsity football designated areas, sideline/visitor spectator passes, use of the university’s football field located at Brooks Stadium, and music during football practices.”

The contract states Moglia has the titles and job duties of head football coach, executive director of football operations, and chairman of the athletics department.

The article documents a few perks of other head coaches that include use of a private jet at their leisure, Final Four tickets or tuition benefits for their grandchildren or great grandchildren.

Moglia is in his sixth year leading the CCU program but is taking a five-month medical sabbatical that will encompass the entire 2017 season to help clear up inflammation in his lungs that has been caused by a fungal infection.

“My commitment hasn’t changed at all. I’m looking forward to coming back ready to go,” Moglia said Saturday.

First-year CCU offensive coordinator and associate head coach Jamey Chadwell is the interim head coach in Moglia’s absence this season.

Moglia announced the medical leave on July 28, the eve of CCU’s first football practice of the season. Moglia said Saturday that he agreed to the contract extension in February and thought the agreement had been consummated this summer before it was readdressed with him in August.

The new contract pays Moglia a base salary of $400,000, up from $175,000 in his previous agreement, and the salary will be reviewed annually by CCU president David DeCenzo.

The Chanticleers moved up to the top level of college football this season, the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, after 14 seasons at the Football Championship Subdivision. The levels were previously called Division I-A and I-AA.

A buyout of Moglia’s contract if he is fired “without cause” is 50 percent of his remaining contract beginning at a full year’s salary – currently $400,000 – and his assistants have buyouts as well if they are terminated within 30 days of his termination.

If Moglia leaves for a job with another Group of Five conference school – teams in the American, Mountain West, Mid-American, Conference USA or Sun Belt – he owes the university one year’s salary.

Moglia must notify and seek permission from the CCU president to engage in contract negotiations with another school or professional team while under contract with CCU.

The new contract includes financial incentives for Moglia based on the team’s on-field and academic performance.

Moglia will be paid $25,000 if his team’s academic progress rate (APR), as measured and reported to the NCAA, falls between 950 and 965. The bonus increases to $50,000 if the APR is between 966 and 980 and increases to $75,000 if it exceeds 981.

The team’s APR reportedly hit an all-time high at 979 in the 2016-17 academic year.

A bowl invitation nets Moglia a $75,000 bonus, and a bowl win, division title or conference title each come with a $100,000 bonus. A top 50 ranking lands Moglia a $150,000 bonus and a top 25 ranking increases to $250,000.

Hansen a winner

CCU senior Malene Krolboll Hansen of Denmark earned her second career individual victory on Sunday, claiming the Ladies Fall Invitational title when the final round was canceled due to inclement weather and unplayable conditions.

Hansen’s two-round total of even-par 144 in challenging weather conditions gave her a two-stroke victory over Henriette Nielsen of Kennesaw State at storied Atlanta Athletic Club. The Chants finished seventh in the 13-team field 35-over 611. Kennesaw State and host Louisville tied for the team title at 20-over 596.

Hansen also won the Golfweek Conference Challenge last fall at Red Sky Golf Club in Colorado and continues to lay claim to being one of the top women’s golfers in CCU history.

Her two rounds of even-par 72 give her a total of 44 rounds of par or better during her 35 career events. She has 11 top-10 finishes and 24 top-20 finishes.

The third round was started Sunday and the Chants had moved up four spots into third place when play was halted. No other CCU individual finished inside the top 25.

The event concluded the CCU women’s fall schedule. The team returns to action Feb. 9-11 at Florida State’s Seminole Golf Club.

Another XC title

For the second consecutive year, a CCU runner won a Sun Belt Conference cross country title.

Freshman Nadeel Wildschutt of Ceres, South Africa, continued his torrid stretch of running with a win Saturday in a time of 24:44.3 in the conference championships at the State Farm Fields-Kennedy Trails in Boone, N.C.

Wildschutt has now won four consecutive races, and he is just the second Chanticleer to win a men’s cross country individual title, joining Terah Kipchiris, who won back-to-back Big South Conference titles in 2002 and 2003.

The Chants nearly got a sweep of the individual titles as junior Lisha van Onselen, who is also South African, placed second in the women’s race in a time of 17:38.5 to be named the Sun Belt Women’s Cross Country Newcomer of the Year.

Annie Bothma of South Africa won the conference’s women’s cross country title last season as a redshirt freshman but she missed the Sun Belt meet this year with an injury.

The CCU men’s and women’s team each finished seventh in the conference meet. Host Appalachian State won the men’s title and Texas State the women’s crown.

The CCU cross country team will next compete in the NCAA Southeast Regional on Nov. 10 in Earlysville, Va.

Volleyball in first

The CCU volleyball team claimed sole possession of first place in the Sun Belt East Division on Sunday with a three-set sweep of South Alabama (25-21, 25-14, 25-21) at the HTC Center in its final home match of the season.

The win closed out the home careers of seniors Leah Hardeman, Kate Federico, Dora Lulic, Larissa Dos Santos and Leah Levert. Hardeman, the reigning Sun Belt Player of the Year, was the only player to reach double figures in kills with 15 and added nine digs, and Sydney Alvis had 17 of Coastal’s 48 digs to lead all players.

CCU ends it regular season with four road matches, including at South Alabama in Mobile, Ala., on Nov. 10.

This story was originally published October 30, 2017 at 4:49 PM with the headline "CCU football coach Moglia’s new contract draws attention of national publication."