The carousel season is nearly in full swing, and the rumor mill is already churnin’ fast. Let’s take a look at some of the candidates your school might be eyeing, complete with salary, contract, and buyout information.
Brent Vigen, the son of a small-town football coach, has built a championship pedigree that stretches from the plains of North Dakota to the peaks of Bozeman. Named Montana State’s 33rd head coach on Feb. 8, 2021, Vigen has quickly turned the Bobcats into one of the FCS’s model programs.
Brent Vigen Contract & Buyout
Current School: Montana State University
Conference: Big Sky
Record: 51-12 (5th season)
Base Salary: $295,000
Contract Term: Jan. 1, 2025 – Mar. 31, 2029
Assistant Coaching Pool: ≈ $944,000
Buyout: $450,000 (through Dec. 2025), scaling to $300,000 by 2027
Total Compensation (Est.): ~$400,000 annually with incentives
Brent Vigen Bio
Since arriving in Bozeman, Vigen has led Montana State to four straight postseason appearances, three 12-win seasons, and two FCS national championship game berths. In 2024, he became the first Bobcat coach to win the Eddie Robinson Award, given to the national coach of the year. His steady hand and developmental approach have produced some of the most decorated players in school history, from Troy Andersen’s FCS ADA Defensive Player of the Year award in 2021 to quarterback Tommy Mellott’s Walter Payton, Walter Camp, and FCS ADA Offensive Player of the Year sweep in 2024.
A native of Buxton, North Dakota, Vigen played tight end at North Dakota State and began his coaching career there as a graduate assistant in 1998. He climbed the ranks to offensive coordinator, helping the Bison capture four straight league titles and three national championships before following Craig Bohl to Wyoming in 2014 as offensive coordinator and later associate head coach. His tenure in Laramie included mentoring future Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen and guiding the Cowboys to multiple bowl appearances.
Now in his fifth season at Montana State, Vigen has earned respect across the FCS and beyond. His name surfaced for multiple FBS openings last cycle, including Washington State and New Mexico, and those conversations were reportedly “very close” to becoming reality.
While Vigen’s base salary of $295,000 ranks modestly compared to top FCS peers with similar success, his contract is packed with incentives and third-party payments that bring his total compensation closer to $400,000 annually. He earns $30,000 each year for promotional and fundraising activities, with additional bonuses tied to donor success — $25,000 if the Bobcat Quarterback Club raises between $500,000 and $999,999, and $50,000 if the group exceeds $1 million. His media appearances also add significant value, with $40,000 each for weekly radio and television shows during the season. A $50,000 annual retention bonus is payable every July 1, and game-related incentives include $55,000 for matchups against Power Four opponents, $25,000 for Group of Six games, and another $25,000 if the Bobcats host seven or more regular-season home games.
Vigen’s current contract runs through March 31, 2029, with a buyout structure that starts at $450,000 if either side ends the agreement before December 2025 and gradually scales down to $300,000 by the final year. The assistant coaching pool at Montana State is approximately $944,000.
With two national title appearances, consistent postseason success, and deep Midwestern recruiting ties, Vigen’s resume mirrors that of several coaches who have successfully made the jump to the FBS. If the carousel spins his way this winter, few resumes in the FCS ranks will carry more weight.
