Bobby Petrino received an unexpectedly multi-layered salary during his last stint to Arkansas. His contract officially began at $350,000 through February when the Razorbacks hired him back as offensive coordinator. Petrino’s pay increased dramatically to $1.5 million for the 2024 season, including $1 million in additional compensation, when the new contract year began.

It was supposed to go upto $1.6 million in 2025. When Sam Pittman was fired in the middle of the season, Petrino was forced to take over as interim head coach, which further changed the situation. Even though Arkansas went 0–7 when he was in charge, the spike in responsibilities boosted his worth and solidified his reputation as a top-tier offensive mind.

The thrilling next chapter is about Petrino entering Bill Belichick’s circle at North Carolina. Working under the most accomplished HC in football history adds a new level of seriousness for a coach who has called plays at almost every level possible.

North Carolina is stop No. 10 on Bobby Petrino’s long football road.  Petrino has called plays in both colleges and pro locker rooms, from Carroll College to Idaho, Nevada, Utah State, Louisville, and even an NFL detour with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He also has a 140-88 record as head coach of Louisville, Arkansas, Western Kentucky, Missouri State, and the Atlanta Falcons when he wasn’t calling plays.

Bobby Petrino’s salary will set the tone for Belichick’s UNC rebuild

Petrino will replace Freddie Kitchens, who was fired earlier this month after the offense struggled to find its footing. North Carolina only managed 19.3 points and 288.8 yards per game in Bill Belichick’s first college season, numbers that seemed startlingly out of place for a team attempting to kick off in a new era under the best coach in NFL history. The most obvious example of an unsuccessful experiment was Kitchens, a holdover from Mack Brown’s staff who had moved from a $550,000 run-game coordinator position to a $1.15 million offensive coordinator salary.

The money context matters here. This isn’t 2000 anymore, when Chuck Amato’s entire NC State staff crossing the $1 million mark felt revolutionary. UNC’s assistant coach pool is currently close to $7 million, with Belichick getting $10 million a year on a five-year, $50 million buyout.

As defensive coordinator, Stephen Belichick alone earns $1.3 million. Petrino is entering a financial ecosystem, where exceptional experience is supposed to be compensated accordingly. Although Petrino’s precise UNC compensation has not been disclosed, the replacement of a $1.15 million coordinator on a staff that is already spending aggressively suggests this won’t be a modest deal.

And this belief is further backed by Petrino’s most recent deal with Arkansas. What started out as a $350,000 short-term contract swiftly grew into a $1.5 million salary, complete with bonuses, benefits, and layered pay that matched his position in the sport. With bonuses linked to playoff performance and titles, that amount was expected to rise once again by 2025, surpassing $1.6 million. And for a program betting big on Belichick after a rocky first season, paying a premium for a proven offensive mind is like a necessity.

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