Maryland system policy could deny coaches bonuses for low APR rates

A potential University System of Maryland policy that would deny USM coaches bonuses if their players' academics are poor was approved by a Board of Regents committee on Tuesday.

A potential University System of Maryland policy that would deny USM coaches contract bonuses if their players' academics are poor was approved by a Board of Regents committee on Tuesday, according to the Baltimore Sun.

The policy will now move to the full USM Board of Regents. If passed, it would apply to all schools in the system, including the University of Maryland, Towson and UMBC. It would only affect coaches hired after it is enacted. 

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Under the policy, a coach's contractual bonus would be tied to a team's Academic Progress Rate score, which measures whether student-athletes are on track to graduate. The NCAA already penalizes teams who do not meet APR benchmarks, but university system officials told the Sun they don't know of any other state that has recommended linking these scores to coaching bonuses. 

"That's our understanding, that this is fairly unique," said committee chairman David Kinkopf. "I think the notion is, if we're going to give a coach a performance bonus, that coach ought to meet minimum academic standards or else the coach really does not merit a performance bonus."

The Board of Regents is scheduled to vote on the policy on Oct. 24. 

- Molly Geary