Editor’s Note: This is the continuation of a story first published in Wednesday’s edition of The Dispatch
Mississippi State women’s basketball head coach Sam Purcell could bring home an extra $625,000 if everything went to plan for the Bulldogs during 2026-27, according to the coach’s Institution of Higher Learning Contract obtained by the Dispatch via a public records request.
MSU coaches are up for performance-based incentives, receiving money for post-season berths and success, and personal awards, on top of their annual salary.
Here is a look at the incentives some MSU coaches are up for.
Sam Purcell, Women’s Basketball
Purcell earned a few contract incentives in his four full seasons as the Bulldogs head coach.
State has reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament two times under Purcell, both earning him 10% of his annual gross salary, according to his contract. The bonus in 2022-23 equaled $55,000, and $66,250 in 2024-25.
Purcell’s salary for the 2026-27 season is $715,000, according to the second amendment of his contract, which extends Purcell’s time in Starkville through the 2028-29 season.
Returning to the NCAA Tournament would earn Purcell 59,345 (8.3% of his salary). Reach the second round and Purcell would pocket $71,500 (10% of his salary). Purcell would bank $89,375 (12.5% of his salary) for a Sweet 16 appearance, $107,250 (15% of his salary) for getting to the Elite 8 and $125,125 (17.5% of his salary) for a spot in the Final 4.
Purcell’s bonuses become less of a math problem for anything further than a Final 4 berth. The Bulldogs’ head coach would receive $250,000 for a national championship appearance and $500,000 if MSU won it all. Purcell would only receive the highest of these incentives if more than one applied.
He could receive a nice payday for his off-the-court talents. Purcell would get $12,500 if MSU landed in the top-10 of the Collegiate Girls Basketball Report recruiting rankings for high school recruits, and the same amount for a top-10 transfer class.
Purcell would earn $25,000 for an SEC Tournament championship and $50,000 for an SEC Regular Season championship. He would get $25,000 if he was named SEC or National Coach of the Year by Coaches or AP.
The maximum Purcell could receive in performance based incentives this season is $625,000
Julie Darty Dennis, Volleyball
Darty Dennis is looking to build on the 2025 season – her best yet – and break through to the NCAA Tournament. If she does, she’ll see some money come her way.
She would earn $19,505 (8.3% of her $235,000 salary in 2026) for an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Darty Dennis would get $23,500 (10% of her salary) for reaching the second round, $29,375 (12.5% of her salary) for reaching the Sweet 16, $35,250 (15% of her salary) for reaching the Elite 8 and $41,125 for reaching the Final 4.
The bonus jumps to $47,000 (20% of her salary) for a national championship appearance, and $58,750 (25% of her salary) for winning it all. She only would receive one of the incentives if more than one is applicable.
Darty Dennis would receive $50,000 for winning the SEC regular season, $25,000 for finishing top-3 in the conference and $10,000 for finishing in the top-7. She’d earn $5,000 for finishing 8-10 in the SEC standings. She would only earn one of these incentives if more than one is applicable.
She would get $25,000 for winning SEC Coach of the Year, $30,000 for AVCA Region Coach of the Year, $50,000 for AVCA National Coach of the Year. Darty Dennis would earn $15,000 for winning 20 or more matches and $20,000 for back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances.
The maximum Darty Dennis could earn in performance based incentives in one season is $248,750.
Dusty Smith, Men’s Golf
Charlie Ewing, Women’s Golf
Smith led the Bulldogs to a historic 2026 season, and got rewarded for it.
He received $25,000 for earning an NCAA top-30 finish. He was close to another $25,000, falling just short of an SEC Tournament championship.
Smith’s contract, which didn’t include any performance incentives until its fifth amendment, also includes a $50,000 award for a top-8 finish and $100,000 for a national championship. Only one of these incentives is earned if more than one is applicable.
MSU women’s golf head coach Charlie Ewing earned $10,000 for taking the Bulldogs to the NCAA Regional. The fourth amendment to his contract, signed in July 2024, includes all the same incentives as Smith.
The maximum both coaches could receive in performance-based incentives for one season is $125,000.
Chris Woods, Track and Field
None of Woods’ contracts obtained by The Dispatch by records request include performance-based incentives.
The contract of head soccer coach Kevin O’Brien was not sent to the dispatch by MSU. MSU paralegal Caitlin Rackley said there are no records responsive to his contract yet.
Jake is the Mississippi State athletics reporter for The Dispatch.
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