Photo credit: Charlotte Athletics

I've received the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that Wes Miller has signed with Charlotte 49ers Basketball. I'll update this in the future when the complete Wes Miller contract is signed and available.

Key Dates

5-year deal, running from March 25, 2026 and ends on April 30, 2031.

Salary

Please note, this all shows as Annual Base Salary, likely this is split between University and Athletic Foundation funds, but we'll have a better understanding once the final contract is done.

Contract Year 1 (Start of Term through April 30, 2027): $900,000 (annualized)
Contract Year 2 (May 1, 2027 - April 30, 2028): $950,000
Contract Year 3 (May 1, 2028 - April 30, 2029): $1,000,000
Contract Year 4 (May 1, 2029 - April 30, 2030): $1,000,000
Contract Year 5 (May 1, 2030 - April 30, 2031): $1,000,000

Additional Compensation

Automobile: One late model automobile or allowance of $750/month and a credit card to use for purchasing fuel for business use of the automobile.

Club Membership: One-time initiation (capped at $25,000) and all basic monthly, annual, or other basic membership dues (capped at $6,000 annually) required to maintain a membership in coach’s name at one country club of Coach’s choice, subject to the review and approval of the Director of Athletics.

Moving Expenses/Temporary Housing: One-time stipend of $30,000 for reasonable relocation expenses; temporary housing and related expenses for up to ninety (90) days.

Tickets: Each academic year, upon Coach’s request and at no cost or expense to Coach, University will provide Coach with ten (10) premium Men’s Basketball season tickets in the lower seating section of Halton Arena, five (5) season tickets for Men’s Basketball in the upper seating section of Halton Arena, and six (6) football season tickets for use by Coach for all home football games. University will provide reasonable travel costs (including transportation and lodging) for Coach’s spouse to attend all Men’s Basketball road games. If the Men’s Basketball team competes in the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship, University will provide reasonable travel costs for Coach’s spouse and children to attend such games. University will also provide reasonable travel costs for Coach's spouse and two additional guests on any Men’s Basketball chartered trips when there is space available on the chartered airplane. Where applicable, costs will be processed as taxable income to Coach.

Coaches and Staff

Salary pools: The total salary compensation pool for employees of the Men’s Basketball program for the Term shall be no less than $1,040,000. Coach shall have the authority (subject to the final approval of the Director of Athletics) to employ, manage, discipline, and terminate all assistant coaches and other direct reports within the basketball department, subject to departmental guidelines and budgetary limitations.

Program benefits

University will allocate to Coach no less than $435,000 per Contract Year for the purpose of scheduling and securing buy games. Any portion of such funds not expended on buy games during a given Contract Year may be retained by the program and applied toward program enhancements with prior approval from the Director of Athletics, which will not be unreasonably withheld.

Buyout Details

If fired without cause: University’s sole financial obligation will be to pay Coach 85% of the then-current Base Salary multiplied by the number of full or partial Contract Years remaining in the Term, and, if applicable, any incentive compensation earned but not paid as of the effective date of termination. If Coach obtains new basketball-related employment at any institution of higher education that is a member of the NCAA or any professional team participating in any professional league or conference in the United States or elsewhere, or as a television or radio analyst or broadcaster, University’s financial obligation will be reduced by the total compensation received by Coach in Coach’s new position over the remaining Term on a dollar-for-dollar basis.

If Wes Miller terminates: Coach will pay University or arrange to have paid to University an amount equal to:

(i) $1,775,000, if terminated prior to April 30, 2027;
(ii) $1,500,000, if terminated on or after April 30, 2027, but prior to April 30, 2028;
(iii) $1,000,000, if terminated on or after April 30, 2028, but prior to April 30, 2029;
(iv) $500,000, if terminated on or after April 30, 2029, but prior to April 30, 2030; or
(v) $100,000, if terminated on or after April 30, 2030, but prior to April 30, 2031.

Such amount shall be due within 120 days following the date of termination. If applicable, Coach will receive any Base Salary and Supplemental Pay earned but not yet paid, but will forfeit any unpaid incentive compensation. Coach agrees to provide advance notice to the Director of Athletics prior to engaging in any substantive discussions or negotiations for employment with another institution. In the event the current Director of Athletics is no longer employed by the University, the above amounts shall be reduced by 50%.

Academic Incentive

Each year the multi-year Academic Progress Rate (APR) for the Men’s Basketball team (calculated in the fall of each year on a four-year rolling basis and released in February of the following year) is 970 or higher, University will pay Coach supplemental compensation of $15,000, such payment to be made in a lump sum within 90 days of the end of the University’s spring academic semester.

Athletic Incentives

Competitive Success During Regular Season Play.

Coach will be rewarded for successful competition during regular season play as follows:

*Limited to up to two (2) home games per season. This incentive applies only so long as University is a member of a conference that is not listed in this specific provision.

Postseason Play.

In any year that the men’s basketball team participates in a postseason tournament or achieves corresponding accolades, Coach will receive supplemental compensation as follows:

**Coach will receive a single lump sum payment of $25,000 if the team achieves either the best/tied record in intra-conference play OR wins the conference tournament.

***NCAA Tournament compensation is cumulative up to a maximum of $450,000. If the tournament field expands beyond the current 68 teams, University reserves the right to amend the first-round appearance bonus; however, any such amendment may not decrease said bonus to less than $42,500.

****Additional compensation for NIT selections is not cumulative. Payment shall be only for the highest level achieved within the Postseason Basketball Tournament.

Payment Timeline:

Supplemental compensation payable to Coach for athletic incentives will be deemed earned upon achievement and paid in a lump sum within ninety (90) days of the end of the season, within ninety (90) days after the conclusion of the respective tournament, or within ninety (90) days after poll results are declared, as applicable.