STORY: Iowa signs Clarissa Chun to contract extension through 2031

[Tanner Lafever]

Had been trying to get confirmation on this for a while now, but the news is officially out with Iowa inking head women's wrestling coach Clarissa Chun to a five-year contract extension through 2031:



This was obviously a no-brainer for the Hawkeyes, but it's still nice to see it get put to paper.

I wrote a bit more on the extension, including some thoughts on the past five years and the five to come for Chun and the women's program:

Iowa, Clarissa Chun reach contract extension through 2031 - On3

 

[sdvike]

Didnt see any numbers in the story but assume and hope she is getting a nice chunk of change.

 

[Tanner Lafever]

Didnt see any numbers in the story but assume and hope she is getting a nice chunk of change.

I’ll update the new contract details once my FOIA request gets returned.

At the end of her previous deal, Chun was making $130k + various performance bonuses.

 

[WhiteDog125]

I’ll update the new contract details once my FOIA request gets returned.

At the end of her previous deal, Chun was making $130k + various performance bonuses.

Thanks for the coverage of women’s wrestling Tanner

 

[Tanner Lafever]

Thanks for the coverage of women’s wrestling Tanner

Thank you for following along!

I appreciate it, of course - but more importantly I know the team really does as well.

 

[Squatch96]

Thank you for following along!

I appreciate it, of course - but more importantly I know the team really does as well.

Any chance we can get her on the pod with kakert? I recently listen when they had Jan Jansen and Tom's interview wirh coach chun at the I club. I think she would be great guest?

 

[Tanner Lafever]

Any chance we can get her on the pod with kakert? I recently listen when they had Jan Jansen and Tom's interview wirh coach chun at the I club. I think she would be great guest?

Yeah, we can definitely work on that.

I know we had her on either last year or the year prior, so at some point before next season we can try and go for a repeat appearance - assuming @TomKakert (AKA The Podfather) is foolish enough to grant me runway on the podcast once again

 

[Sunshinedynomite 1]

Music to my ears!

 

[ebdad]

Any chance we can get her on the pod with kakert? I recently listen when they had Jan Jansen and Tom's interview wirh coach chun at the I club. I think she would be great guest?

Absolutely should get her on if you can. Public speaking might be her least favorite thing on the planet.

 

[grapplefan]

Absolutely should get her on if you can. Public speaking might be her least favorite thing on the planet.

Losing might be her least favorite thing on the planet. Glad she's going to be sticking around for another five years.

 

[Tanner Lafever]

Here are the contract details for Chun's five year-extension:

Salary
- $133,900/year + $5,000/year in 'annual outside income' (Sport ambassador, speaking engagements, TV, radio, etc.)

Annual Incentives
- NCAA finish = $15,000 for 1st place, $7,500 for 2nd place, $5,000 for 3rd place
- Individual NCAA champions = $5,000 (total) for five or more, $3,000 (total) for 1-4
- Academic = $5,000 for team GPA of 3.0 or higher
- National Coach of the Year = $5,000
- Longevity/Retention Bonus = $10,000/year

The annual salary of $133,900 (for the duration of the new contract) is only a $3,900 bump from her 2025-26 salary, and all of the incentives/bonuses listed above are for the same exact amounts included in her previous contract.

However, there is new language (see below) regarding potential annual salary increases at the discretion of Beth Goetz - and based on several factors:

"Beginning July 1, 2027 and for each following year of the contract, subject to the discretion of the Director of Athletics, Coach will be eligible for an adjustment to base salary provided it is supported by exemplary conduct, positive performance, salary market data and departmental budget, but will not be less than 2.5%."


CC: @sdvike

 

[sdvike]

Here are the contract details for Chun's five year-extension:

Salary
- $133,900/year + $5,000/year in 'annual outside income' (Sport ambassador, speaking engagements, TV, radio, etc.)

Annual Incentives
- NCAA finish = $15,000 for 1st place, $7,500 for 2nd place, $5,000 for 3rd place
- Individual NCAA champions = $5,000 (total) for five or more, $3,000 (total) for 1-4
- Academic = $5,000 for team GPA of 3.0 or higher
- National Coach of the Year = $5,000
- Longevity/Retention Bonus = $10,000/year

The annual salary of $133,900 (for the duration of the new contract) is only a $3,900 bump from her 2025-26 salary, and all of the incentives/bonuses listed above are for the same exact amounts included in her previous contract.

However, there is new language (see below) regarding potential annual salary increases at the discretion of Beth Goetz - and based on several factors:

"Beginning July 1, 2027 and for each following year of the contract, subject to the discretion of the Director of Athletics, Coach will be eligible for an adjustment to base salary provided it is supported by exemplary conduct, positive performance, salary market data and departmental budget, but will not be less than 2.5%."


CC: @sdvike

Thanks Tanner for your information on both mens and women's wrestling. Im guessing her salary is tops for women's wrestling unless McKendree or North Central coach would.

 

[Tanner Lafever]

Thanks Tanner for your information on both mens and women's wrestling. Im guessing her salary is tops for women's wrestling unless McKendree or North Central coach would.

Perhaps I'll make it a summer project to scan the overall women's wrestling landscape - although some quick research shows that just about all of the other top programs (incl. McKendree/North Central) are private schools who don't have to publicly disclose coaching contract information.

On the subject, however, I did just put in a FOIA request for the Iowa State men's and women's programs. So, if that eventually gets processed, I'll be able to compare the two in-state rivals after what's been a busy spring/summer of change across their respective coaching staffs.