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University of Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian has certainly come a long way since being fired by USC in 2015 amid allegations that he was showing up to practices intoxicated and was once drunk during a game against Arizona State.
Sarkisian’s redemption story just even better after leading the Texas Longhorns to a 12-2 record, the Big 12 Conference championship, and a berth in the College Football Playoffs.
After making $5.6 million last year, Steve Sarkisian’s new contract extension with the University of Texas will see him earn $74.2 million over the next seven years.
According to USA Today’s salary database, the pay bump should move Sarkasian up from 30th on the list of highest paid coaches to well into the top five.
By comparison, Dabo Swinney of Clemson earned $10,884,775, Kirby Smart of Georgia made $10,705,600, and Ohio State’s Ryan Day earned $10,271,250 in 2023.
Steve Sarkisian’s new deal also includes plenty of perks and numerous incentives.
In addition to earning $10,300,000 in 2024, rising to $10,900,000 in 2030, Sarkisian will receive two cars, a country club membership, 20 hours of private jet flight time for personal use per year, a special one-time payment of $300,000, up to 12 tickets for all home games (including premium parking passes), 8 tickets for road games, 8 tickets for the conference championship game, 8 tickets and a suite for all post-season games, and 6 tickets for all home games played by every other sport at the University of Texas.
Sarkisian can also an extra $1.85 million in incentives, including…
• $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.
The CFP incentives will only pay out once, meaning the amount paid will equal how far Texas makes it in the playoffs, not an accumulation of bonuses for each round.
In addition to Sarkisian’s new deal, three of his assistants will receive nice pay bumps as well.
Kyle Flood will make $1.4 million by 2025, Jeff Banks will earn $1.5 million by 2026, and Pete Kwiatkowski will be making $2 million by 2027.