Leavitt still has “K-State Clause”

The contracts for the assistant football coaches for the Oregon Ducks have been released, and as anticipated, Oregon defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt’s contract still features a “K-State Clause”.

Andrew Greif at The Oregonian reports that Leavitt, who will earn a guaranteed $1.7 million annually as part of a four-year extension that expires Jan. 31, 2022, still has a zero-dollar buyout if he were to leave Oregon to take the head coaching position at K-State.

Should Leavitt leave Oregon before Jan. 31, 2019, he would owe the university a $500,000 buyout. The amount would then drop to $250,000 after that date. However, those buyouts will be waived only if he leaves to become Kansas State's head coach -- a provision that was in his original deal with UO, as well.

Leavitt has previously said that this provision was his own idea, and there has been no promise or input from K-State or current head coach Bill Snyder regarding any future at K-State for the former Wildcat defensive coordinator. However, it does make Leavitt a very tempting option should Gene Taylor decide to look outside the Vanier Family Football Complex to find K-State’s next head football coach whenever Snyder decides to hang it up.