College football coaches are raking in the dough.
University of Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian has undoubtedly undergone a remarkable journey since his dismissal from USC in 2015 amidst allegations of attending practices under the influence and being intoxicated during a game against Arizona State.
Sarkisian’s redemption narrative reached new heights after guiding the Texas Longhorns to a stellar 12-2 record, clinching the Big 12 Conference championship, and securing a coveted spot in the College Football Playoffs.
Following his impressive coaching performance, Sarkisian’s financial future received a significant boost with his recent contract extension with the University of Texas, projecting to earn a staggering $74.2 million over the next seven years. This substantial increase in earnings positions Sarkisian among the top-paid coaches in college football.
For context, Sarkisian’s new salary surpasses $10 million annually, placing him in the same league as renowned coaches like Dabo Swinney of Clemson, Kirby Smart of Georgia, and Ryan Day of Ohio State, who earned substantial sums in 2023.
In addition to his lucrative base salary, Sarkisian’s contract is laden with perks and incentives, including two cars, a country club membership, private jet flight hours for personal use, and tickets to various sporting events at the University of Texas. Furthermore, Sarkisian stands to gain up to $1.85 million in bonuses based on team performance and coaching accolades, with additional pay bumps for his coaching staff, including Kyle Flood, Jeff Banks, and Pete Kwiatkowski.
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• $150,000 if Texas plays in the SEC championship game and $300,000 if Texas wins it.
• $100,000 if Texas makes it to a non-CFP bowl game.
• $250,000 if Texas plays in the first round of the College Football Playoffs (CFP).
• $500,000 for playing in the CFP quarterfinals.
• $750,000 for playing in the CFP semifinals.
• $1 million for playing in the CFP national championship game.
• $1.25 million for winning the CFP national championship.
• $200,000 if he’s named national coach of the year by one of seven different organizations.
• $100,000 if he’s named conference coach of the year.
These provisions underscore the University of Texas’s commitment to Sarkisian and his coaching staff, reflecting the program’s dedication to achieving sustained success on the football field.
For elite college football coaches, the financial rewards can rival those seen in the NFL.
