Nick Saban hasn't had a contract extension in three years, which is like two lifetimes in coaching years.
With an overdue head coach, a largely overturned coaching staff and a new AD, the Alabama Board of Trustees' compensation committee on Tuesday approved extensions for the Crimson Tide braintrust.
Saban signed a 3-year extension keeping him with the Tide through Jan. 31, 2025. "Terry and I are pleased and happy to agree to the contract extension The University of Alabama has offered us, ensuring our time here in Tuscaloosa will continue for many more years," he said in a statement. "This has become our home and we are looking forward to finishing our career in Alabama."
The new deal will keep Saban in crimson through his 19th season in Alabama, when he will be 73 years old. The announcement did not include details of a raise, though Saban will receive a $4 million signing bonus, putting his 2017 pay at $11.125 million before bonuses, jetting him past Jim Harbaugh to again become college football's highest-paid coach.
Beyond Saban, new AD Greg Byrne signed a contract that will pay him $900,000 this year and rise $25,000 a year.
Byrne will earn less than his own outside linebackers coach. Tosh Lupoi netted a raise from $550,000 to $950,000 -- more than 46 FBS head coaches in 2016, according to the USA Today coaching salary database. Defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt earned a $300,000 raise to $1.3 million, while offensive coordinator Brian Daboll will earn $1.2 million in a previously reported deal.
Strength coach Scott Cochran signed a 1-year extension to 2020 that will pay him $535,000 this year. That's more than 18 head coaches made last year, according to USA Today.
Here's how Saban's full staff breaks down:
- Defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt: $1.3 million (with a $100,00 annual raise) through the 2019 season
- Offensive coordinator Brian Daboll: $1.2 million (previously reported)
- Outside linebackers coach Tosh Lupoi: $950,000 through 2018
- Wide receivers coach Mike Locksley: $600,000 through 2018
- Running backs coach Burton Burns: $490,000 through 2018
- Defensive backs coach Derrick Ansley: $405,000 through 2018
- Offensive line coach Brent Key: $400,000 through 2018
- Tight ends coach/special teams coordinator Joe Pannunzio: $375,000 through 2018
- Defensive line coach Karl Dunbar: $275,000 (with a $300,000 raise in 2018) through 2018
- Strength coach Scott Cochran: $535,000 through 2019.