KU wide receivers coach just picked up a nice raise. It comes with a heftier buyout
A few weeks ago, reports out of Austin mentioned Kansas receivers coach Emmett Jones as a potential candidate for an opening on Texas’ football staff.
It appears there was a good reason the Longhorns might have decided to look elsewhere.
Jones, who signed a contract extension with KU on Dec. 13 that was obtained by The Star on Tuesday, appears to be locked in with the Jayhawks’ program for the foreseeable future. That’s because the contract has a $600,000 buyout if Jones chooses to leave KU for any reason before Feb. 28, 2026.
With Jones’ previous contract, his buyout was $225,000 if he left KU before the end of 2020. He also would not have owed any money if he left KU to become an FBS head coach.
The new agreement guarantees Jones a higher salary: $300,000 annually for 2020 and 2021, with KU holding team options at the same amount for each season from 2022 through 2025. Under his previous deal, Jones was to be paid $240,000 in 2020 and $250,000 in 2021 and 2022 if KU chose to pick up those option years.
Jones’ new contract also includes added-on incentive payments for team milestones. Some of them include KU reaching a bowl game (5% of salary), making the Big 12 championship game (5%) and making the College Football Playoff (15%). Each of those bonuses are non-cumulative, with the exception of KU making the Big 12 title game.
As part of the new arrangement, Jones also receives the title of KU passing game coordinator.
After being hired by coach Les Miles last offseason, Jones excelled in his first year with KU. Not only has he been a standout recruiter — especially in the Dallas/Forth Worth area — but he also headed up a receiver room that made significant player development strides. That showed up in the statistics as well, with KU’s Andrew Parchment and Stephon Robinson both finishing top 10 in the Big 12 in receiving yards.
Emmett Jones incentives with new contract
Make Big 12 Championship game: 5% of salary*
Any bowl game: 5% of salary
Win bowl game: 7.5% of salary
Selected for New Year’s Bowl game: 10% of salary
Win New Year’s Bowl game: 15% of salary
Make the College Football Playoff: 15% of salary
Win one game in College Football Playoff: 20% of salary
Win the National Championship: 25% of salary
Note: All incentives are non-cumulative, meaning Jones would receive the bonus for the highest achievement attained in a season. The only exception is making the Big 12 Championship game, which would be paid in addition to the other incentive.
