USF owes Charlie Strong $3.1 million, per termination letter

USF will pay former football coach Charlie Strong approximately $3.1 million as a result of a “supplemental compensation” agreement with the school’s private fundraising arm, according to documents obtained Friday by the Tampa Bay Times.

The 1½-page notice of termination, dated Dec. 1 and hand-delivered to Strong, was provided upon a public records request.

Strong’s buyout agreement with the USF Foundation, a direct-support organization whose records are confidential and exempt from disclosure under Florida law, had been the subject of widespread speculation.

But the termination letter appears to bring that buyout to light. The fourth paragraph states:

In accordance with Section 8 of your Employment Agreement, you are entitled to twenty (20) weeks of your Base Salary of $500,000 (exclusive of benefits) totaling $191,570.88. Additionally, you are entitled to receive a Total Compensation Amount under Section B of your Supplemental Compensation Agreement with the USF Foundation. The Total Compensation Amount as of the effective date is $3,180,000 less the $191,570.88 paid by the university for a total of $2,988,429.12. Unless accelerated in the sole discretion of the university and the USF Foundation, the total amount owed to you will be paid in equal monthly installments through December 31, 2021 and will be subject to any required tax withholdings.

Should Strong become employed in a “football coaching or management capacity” before Dec. 31, 2021, the total owed to him will be reduced by the amount equal to his new compensation.

Strong compiled a 21-16 record in three seasons at USF, lowlighted by a 4-8 mark in 2019. He was replaced by Clemson co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott.