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Alabama’s Newest Football Coach Among College Football’s Highest-Paid
Alabama’s first-year head coach, Kalen DeBoer, has secured a lucrative contract that places him among the top-paid coaches in college football. With an annual average salary of $10.875 million, DeBoer’s eight-year deal positions him in the top five nationally in terms of coaching compensation.
The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees recently approved DeBoer’s contract, ensuring that he will receive $10 million in the initial year. Over the course of the agreement, his pay will escalate by $250,000 annually, reaching $11.75 million by the contract’s final year in 2031. Notably, DeBoer’s contract guarantees 90 percent of his compensation in the event of termination without cause, with no mitigation clause included. Additionally, he would face a buyout of $5 million if he were to depart before the contract’s completion in 2024, decreasing to $4 million in 2025, $3 million in 2026, and no buyout from 2027 onwards.
DeBoer Among Elite Company in Coaching Salaries
Industry sources have revealed that DeBoer’s average salary places him fourth among all college football head coaches. Topping the list is Clemson’s Dabo Swinney, commanding an annual average of $11.5 million. Following closely are Georgia’s Kirby Smart and USC’s Lincoln Riley, both surpassing the $11 million mark. DeBoer’s compensation of $10.875 million ranks him ahead of Texas’ Steve Sarkisian and Florida State’s Mike Norvell, who also recently crossed the $10 million salary threshold.
Before joining Alabama, DeBoer enjoyed a successful stint at Washington, where he guided the Huskies to the national championship game. Despite receiving a substantial offer from Washington after the Sugar Bowl, DeBoer opted to accept the head coaching position at Alabama, succeeding the legendary Nick Saban. Saban, a six-time national champion with the Crimson Tide, was set to earn $11.5 million in 2024 prior to his retirement.
Among Alabama’s assistant coaches, defensive coordinator Kane Wommack leads the pack with a salary of $1.55 million for 2024. Other notable figures include offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan at $1.35 million, co-offensive coordinator/receivers coach JaMarcus Shephard at $1.1 million, and associate head coach/defensive line coach Freddie Roach at $1 million. The coaching staff’s salaries reflect the university’s commitment to assembling a top-tier football program under DeBoer’s leadership.
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