Charles Kelly’s first contract as a head football coach has been signed.

The new Jacksonville State head coach has signed a five-year deal with an annual compensation of $1 million a year, according to the contract obtained by AL.com through a public records request.

The contract was effective on Dec. 20, 2024, and will expire on Dec. 31, 2029; Kelly and Jacksonville State president Don Killingsworth signed the agreement on Dec. 24, 2024.

Kelly’s benefits and perks include a standard university benefits package, temporary housing for up to 60 days, a $25,000 relocation stipend, a courtesy automobile and use of a private club/golf club membership.

The contract’s annual performance incentives include a $25,000 bonus for a conference championship game appearance or a $50,000 bonus for winning a conference championship game; Jax State is fresh off of a Conference USA championship victory.

Should Kelly earn conference coach of the year honors, he will receive a $10,000 bonus and an additional $25,000 if he is named national coach of the year (Eddie Robinson, Walter Camp, Bobby Dodd, Bear Bryant, AP, AFCA, Home Depot, Sporting News or Maxwell).

Should Jax State finish in the top 25 of the AP, Coaches, or College Football Playoff polls at the end of the season, Kelly will earn an additional $25,000 bonus.

Other postseason and College Football Playoff-related incentives in Kelly’s contract include:

—Non-CFP bowl appearance: $15,000; or

—Non-CFP bowl win: $25,000; or

—CFP first-round game appearance: $100,000; or

—CFP quarterfinal game appearance: $200,000; or

—CFP semifinal game appearance; $300,000; or

—CFP national championship game appearance; $400,000; or

—CFP national championship game win: $500,000

According to the contract, Kelly will have a salary pool of $2,267,000 annually for 10 full-time assistant coaches and support staff members; it’s noted that the amount can increase based on conference and/or national trends.

Kelly’s buyout with the program changes depending on how many years he will serve as Jax State’s coach.

Should Killingsworth or athletics director Greg Seitz no longer serve in their respective roles and Kelly’s contract is bought out, the amount shall be reduced by 50%; these terms only apply for Kelly accepting other football coaching-related employment.

—Termination on or before Dec. 31, 2025: $2.5 million; or

—Termination between Jan. 1, 2026 and Dec. 31, 2026: $1.5 million; or

—Termination between Jan. 1, 2027 and Dec. 31, 2027: $500,000; or

—Termination between Jan. 1, 2028 and Dec. 31, 2028: $500,000; or

—Termination between Jan. 1, 2029 and Dec. 31, 2029: $250,000

Should Kelly be terminated without cause, 85% of the remaining annual compensation through the otherwise expired term will be payable in equal monthly installments over the unexpired term.

The contract notes that Kelly shall have an obligation to seek other football coaching-related employment and Jax State has the right to offset the amount due to him on a dollar-for-dollar basis by future compensation earned.

Jax State, which finished 9-4 last season, will open the 2025-26 football season at UCF on Thursday, Aug. 28.