GREEN BAY, Wis. (NBC 26) -- The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay will pay its former men's basketball coach at least $720,000 in buyout money over the next three years.
UWGB parted ways with Linc Darner on May 18. At that time, Darner had six years remaining on his contract, which paid him $230,000 per season.
NBC 26 has obtained a copy of the settlement agreement per an open records request. It states that UW-Green Bay paid Darner $120,000 on May 21, with another $120,000 due on January 4, 2021.
Beginning on May 1, 2021 and going through April 2023, Darner will receive 24 monthly payments of $20,000. If Darner has not gotten another college coaching job by that point, he will receive 12 additional monthly payments of $20,000.
In total, Darner could receive as much as $960,000 from the university. He will also receive health insurance from UWGB through December 31, 2021, unless he has acquired another job which provides health insurance.
UWGB has not provided any further comment since its initial announcement of Darner's dismissal.
Several of the team's eight incoming recruits have already announced they will leave the program to transfer elsewhere, while others are waiting it out to see who the new coach is before they make a decision.
UW-Green Bay had success under Darner, finishing in the top four of the Horizon League in four of his five years and qualifying the NCAA Tournament in 2016 - UWGB's first berth in the big dance since 1996.
