FAYETTEVILLE — University of Arkansas athletics director Hunter Yurachek signed his formal contract in July, seven months after accepting the position, according to documents obtained Wednesday.
Yurachek’s 20-page contract was made effective retroactive to his hire Dec. 4, 2017, and was executed with signatures from himself, UA system president Donald Bobbitt and UA chancellor Joseph Steinmetz between July 3-16.
Yurachek is under contract at Arkansas through Dec. 31, 2022, and will be paid $850,000 from athletics department funds each year - $525,000 in base salary and $325,000 for speaking and media appearances.
Yurachek received a $200,000 signing bonus that would have to be repaid to the university if he accepted another job within his first year at Arkansas. The UA agreed to pay Yurachek’s previous employer, the University of Houston, up to $350,000 to buy out his contract there, although the UA contract is not clear whether that payment was ever requested.
As part of his UA contract, Yurachek will receive one courtesy vehicle through a loaner agreement with local auto dealerships; six complimentary tickets to all Razorback home sporting events and six complimentary tickets to all sporting events outside of Fayetteville when available; reimbursement for family to travel to athletics-related functions and events, such as bowl games, postseason competition or industry meetings; and a complimentary membership to either The Blessings Golf Club or Fayetteville Country Club, and a membership to either Paradise Valley Country Club or Fayetteville Athletic Club.
The UA offered Yurachek up to three months of complimentary housing. He and his wife, Jennifer, closed on a home in Fayetteville in June, according to property records.
If Yurachek is fired for convenience he would be owed 50 percent of the funds due to him through the contract’s expiration in December 2022.
There are 21 instances listed in Yurachek’s contract that would constitute a firing for cause, mostly related to violations of UA, NCAA and Southeastern Conference rules, or Title IX violations. Other fireable offenses are related to gambling, agents and criminal arrests or convictions.