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How much of a buyout Ohio State owes special teams coordinator Parker Fleming after firing
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- How much of a buyout Ohio State owes special teams coordinator Parker Fleming after firing
Ohio State could owe special teams coordinator Parker Fleming as much as half a million dollars as part of a buyout after firing him on Wednesday .
Fleming had another year left on his contract, a two-year agreement signed last January that included an annual base salary worth $500,000.
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Under the terms obtained by The Dispatch through a public records request, he is eligible for severance that includes his base salary through the duration of the deal.
Dec 29, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes special teams coordinator Parker Fleming watches from the sideline during the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic against the Missouri Tigers at AT&T Stadium. Ohio State lost 14-3.
That amount, though, could be mitigated by future income. If Fleming is hired in another role elsewhere, Ohio State's financial obligation is reduced by future earnings, including salary, signing bonus and other income.
The terms outline that Fleming is "required to make every reasonable and diligent effort as soon as practicable following his termination to seek and secure a comparable position."
Those are referenced as Division I or professional coaching positions, as well as scouting or broadcasting. He also must notify Ohio State of attempts seeking employment.
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The severance, which is referred to as post-termination payment, is not scheduled to begin for three months after the dismissal, the provision adds.
Fleming spent the past six seasons with the Buckeyes, the first half of them as a quality control coach before he was elevated to special teams coordinator in 2021.
Ahead of his first season, he helped to bring in Noah Ruggles, a transfer from North Carolina who became a finalist for the Lou Groza Award as the nation's top kicker.
But special teams were hurt by other issues in recent years that ranged from penalties to miscommunications. They were flagged three times in the loss to Missouri in the Cotton Bowl .
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There is no similar financial commitment to Perry Eliano, the Buckeyes' safeties coach who is not being retained and being replaced by Matt Guerrieri.
Eliano's contract, a two-year agreement he signed in 2022 when he was hired after two seasons as Cincinnati's cornerbacks coach, expires at the end of this month.
Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch and can be reached at jkaufman@dispatch.com.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Parker Fleming buyout: How much Ohio State owes after firing
