Mississippi State head football coach Jeff Lebby could earn more than $2 million in performance incentives if the Bulldogs had a perfect 2026-27 season, according to the coach’s Institution of Higher Learning Contract obtained by the Dispatch via a public records request.
Postseason success, conference triumph and personal awards are among the accomplishments MSU coaches can earn as performance incentives, as part of their contracts with the university.
Here is a look at some of MSU’s coaches incentives under their current contracts.
Football – Jeff Lebby
Lebby struck some oil (and egg) money with Mississippi State’s appearance in the 2026 Duke’s Mayo Bowl.
He earned $150,000 for getting MSU to the bowl, even with the Bulldogs’ 43-29 loss to Wake Forest. The appearance was the only incentive Lebby received for last season, and according to the contract there is a lot more up for grabs for Lebby at MSU.
He would earn $50,000 if he was named SEC Coach of the Year by SEC Coaches or the AP and $100,000 if he is named National Coach of the Year by one of eight deciding committees.
Lebby could earn $125,000 for each regular season win against an SEC opponent starting with MSU’s fifth SEC win. If State were to end the season a perfect 9-0 in conference play, Lebby would receive $625,000.
Lebby would earn $100,000 for an appearance in the SEC Championship game or $250,000 if the Bulldogs win the conference crown.
If the Bulldogs take a step back in bowl game pedigree to what is described in the contract as a “SEC Tier 3 bowl game” including the Birmingham and Independence bowl, Lebby would receive $100,000.
Another appearance in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, Taxslayer Gator Bowl, Reliaquest Bowl, Las Vegas Bowl, Music City Bowl, Texas Bowl or Liberty Bowl would add $150,000 to Lebby’s pocket. A step up into the Citrus Bowl, and Lebby would earn $200,000.
Lebby could receive $1 million if the Bulldogs defied expectations and won the national championship. Lebby would get $250,000 with an appearance in the College Football Playoff, $350,000 for making a quarterfinal, $500,000 for making a semifinal and $750,000 for a run to the championship game. Lebby would only receive the highest amount if there is more than one applicable incentive.
He could earn a maximum of $2.025 million in performance incentives in a season according to his current contract.
Baseball – Brian O’Connor
O’Connor ended his first year as MSU’s head coach with a nice payday.
O’Connor will receive $100,000 for getting the Bulldogs to their first Super Regional since 2021. He’ll look to build on the momentum in 2027, and put some more money in his bank.
He could earn $50,000 next season if State wins the SEC regular season and another $50,000 with an SEC tournament championship. He’d get another $50,000 if he was named SEC Coach of the Year via Coaches’ vote, and $50,000 if he was named National Coach of the Year by the Coaches’ Association.
It’s a tall task to earn the $200,000 on the table, but it’s doable. Georgia head coach Wes Johnson earned three of those four honors in 2026, falling short of the National Coach of the Year.
If the Bulldogs reach the NCAA tournament in 2027 but fail to get out of the regional, O’Connor would earn $50,000. A return to Omaha, and O’Connor would bank $150,000. O’Connor would earn $200,000 for a run to the CWS Finals and $300,000 for a national championship win. Just like Lebby, O’Connor would only earn the highest payout if more than one incentive is applicable.
O’Connor could earn up to $500,000 in performance incentives a season according to his current contract.
Associate head baseball coach Kevin McMullan also cashed in on MSU’s return to the supers. He earned $25,000 for the supers appearance, and was two wins away from earning an additional $15,000 for a CWS appearance. McMullan would get $25,000 for a national championship win.
Softball – Samantha Ricketts
Ricketts took home a chunk of change for reaching the program’s first-ever Women’s College World Series.
She earned $50,000 for the Bulldogs’ WCWS appearance, and has a chance to grow on her money earned in 2027. Ricketts would pocket $75,000 for a trip to the WCWS semifinals, $100,000 for an appearance in the WCWS finals and $150,000 for a national championship.
The Bulldogs went 9-17 in SEC play last season, but improving their conference record could also get Ricketts some money. Ricketts would get $35,000 for 12 SEC Wins, a number that would grow by $5,000 for each win up to 16 or more wins, maxing out at $55,000.
Ricketts would earn $15,000 for an SEC regular season championship and $10,000 for an SEC tournament championship.
In total, Ricketts could earn a maximum of $230,000 in performance incentives in a season under her current contract.
Men’s Basketball – Chris Jans
Jans finished the 2025-26 season without earning a performance incentive.
The Bulldogs finished the year 13-19, well short of an NCAA tournament appearance, and will be looking for a bounce back year in 2026-27.
Jans would earn $50,000 with a return to the NCAA tournament, $100,000 for a second round appearance, $150,000 for making the Sweet 16, $250,000 for reaching the Elite 8 and $300,000 for a run to the Final 4. He would get $400,000 for a national championship game appearance and $500,000 for a national championship win. The highest applicable amount would be given for the Bulldogs’ run in the tournament.
Jans could earn $10,000 if the Bulldogs reached the semifinals of the SEC Tournament. Jans would earn $15,000 for an appearance in the SEC Tournament championship game, and a whopping $100,000 for an SEC Tournament win. Jans would only receive the highest possible pay out if more than one incentive is applicable.
If Jans racked up the personal awards, he could take home a combined $75,000 for being named National Coach of the Year ($50,000) and SEC Coach of the Year ($25,000). Jans could earn $150,000 for winning the SEC regular season championship.
Jans could earn a maximum of $825,000 in performance incentives in a season, according to his current contract.
Men’s Tennis – Matt Roberts
MSU men’s tennis had a historic season in 2026, and head coach Matt Roberts took home a big payday for it.
MSU ended its season in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Top 10 at No. 6, earning Roberts $15,000. He earned $35,000 for the Bulldogs’ appearance in the final eight of the NCAA tournament.
Roberts could earn a maximum of $185,000 in performance based incentives in a season according to his contract.
The contract documents sent to the Dispatch by MSU for women’s basketball head coach Sam Purcell, volleyball coach Julie Darty Dennis and track and field coach Chris Woods were contract amendments and did not include performance incentives.
Jake is the Mississippi State athletics reporter for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
