The University of Alabama board of trustees compensation committee formally and unanimously approved Nick Saban's newest contract extension Tuesday afternoon, taking him to $6.9 million in annual compensation. Already the highest-paid football coach at a public university, Saban, 62, will make $6.9 million a year for the next eight seasons.
The terms of the contract are as follows: $6.5 million base salary with a $400,000 completion bonus, extending the contract two years through to Jan. 31, 2022. He will be able to add as much as $700,000 a year in performance bonuses. Also, the Saban Scholarship received a $100,000 contribution.
Other football contracts approved:
- Defensive coordinator Kirby Smart: no change in salary that was already set to increase to $1.35 million from $1.15 million, contract extended through to Feb. 28, 2017.
- Offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin: contract through to Feb. 28, 2017, with salary of $680,000 the first two years and $714,000 the third year.
- Offensive line coach Mario Cristobal: from $475,000 to $500,000 salary, extended one year through February 2016.
- Linebackers coach Lance Thompson: from $400,000 to $428,000, extended one year through February 2016.
- Tight ends/special teams coach Bobby Williams: from $400,000 to $428,000, extended one year through February 2016.
- Linebackers coach Kevin Steele: two-year deal worth $700,000 through February 2016.
- Defensive line coach Bo Davis: two-year deal worth $450,000 through February 2016.
- Running backs coach Burton Burns: $315,000 to $335,000, extended one year through February 2016.
- Wide receivers coach Billy Napier: no change in $325,000 salary, extended contract to February 2016.
- Strength and conditioning coach Scott Cochran: from $355,000 to $395,000, extended through February 2016.
COMMENTARY:
- You don't have to be a Tide fan to admit, Saban is worth it. The man is by far the best college football coach in the game today. Will he stay through to 2022? Maybe, maybe not, but I have to believe he has the drive to go after Bear Bryant's record of 6 National Championships.
- How long will Smart stick around? If UGA finally allows Mark Richt to become a full-time servant to the Lord after this season, Smart could be the next in line. Other than that gig, it's going to take a truckload of cash to wrest him away from his present position.
- Why, oh, why is Bobby Williams making $428,000??? He is not a great recruiter and do we really need to get into the job he has done with special teams in recent years? Hmm... Can you recall any recent games that Bama lost because of special teams?
- You may wonder about Cristobal's half-a-mill but the man can recruit!
- Cochran needs to be locked down until 2022 too!
So, what do you think? Who is overpaid, underpaid, just right?