In February, Texas HC Steve Sarkisian received a lucrative contract deal after flipping the Longhorns’ history in 2023. Last season Texas won the Big 12 and secured a CFP appearance for the first time leading to a contract extension for Sarkisian. In 2024, the 50-year-old HC will earn $10.3 million marking the start of his new seven-year contract that’ll run through 2030.
The contract terms hold that Sarkisian’s salary will increase by $100,000 for each year of the contract with the maximum being $10.9 million in the final year of the contract. With an average annual salary of $10.69 million over six years, Sarkisian will be earning about $64 million by 2030. But after Georgia’s Kirby Smart latest contract signing, Sarkisian suffers a $66 million blow and takes the back seat.
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Kirby Smart becomes the highest-paid CFB coach with $130 million contract
With a revamped two-year extension contract signed on Thursday, Georgia HC Kirby Smart is now the highest-paid college football coach. He surpassed Clemson’s HC Dabo Swinney’s 10-year $115 million contract that’s set to stay active till 2031. Smart signed a new 10-year $130 million deal that will be in effect till 2033 with an annual salary of $13 million.
USA Today via Reuters
Dec 2, 2023; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart during the first half in the SEC Championship game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
In addition to his contract deal, Smart, who is entering his ninth season in Georgia, also has the opportunity to earn up to $1.55 million in bonuses. This extension isn’t uncalled for. Smart led the Bulldogs to 29 straight SEC records while also winning the National Championship games in 2021 and 2022. As for Steve Sarkisian, his performance in Texas has put his earnings behind just two other coaches – Smart and Swinney.
Steve Sarkisian is a valuable asset for the Texas Longhorns
Sarkisian has a lot of experience in coaching football. He also served as an NFL coach for the Oakland Raiders and Atlanta Falcons. Before getting hired by Texas, he spent two seasons in Alabama as the OC. He also served as the HC for Washington and USC and is now entering his fourth season in Texas after going 25-14 with a 17-10 conference record since 2021.
With Sarkisian’s arrival in Texas, the Longhorns saw improvement in their performance each season from 5-7 in 2021, 8-5 in 2022, and 12-2 in 2023. He led his team to an unprecedented victory with a playoff appearance for the first time in 14 years, although they eventually lost to the Washington Huskies 37-31 in the semifinal. This year could be even better in terms of performance now that Sarkisian has been fed what he rightfully deserved.
