Heading into year two at Auburn, Hugh Freeze was looking to replace both coordinators following the dismissal of former offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery and the departure of defensive coordinator Ron Roberts as well as two other key assistants on staff (running backs coach Cadillac Williams and defensive backs coach Zac Etheridge) who left.
Freeze lured Colorado defensive coordinator Charles Kelly back to familiar SEC country with a co-coordinator role, while he reunited with longtime Ole Miss assistant Derrick Nix as the new offensive coordinator for the Tigers.
Thanks to an open records request from AL.com, we've now got a look at the details of each of the new hires contracts on The Plains.
Kelly's deal runs through January of 2027, and starts off with a salary of $875k annually with a $75k raise after a year to get his annual pay to $950k.
He would be owed 100% of his buy out for the remainder of his contract if he were fired, and if Kelly were to break his contract he would owe 100% of his salary if he were to leave before final regular season contest of 2024, and that would decrease to 50% in year two and just 25% in year three of the deal.
Nix's deal is similar, also running through January of 2027 with a starting salary of $800k. He is set to get a $100k raise after one year and a $100k retention bonus for still being on staff after two seasons and three seasons come July 1 of years two and three of his deal.
By the end of the 2026 season, Nix has the potential to be earning $1.2 million annually.
Auburn would owe Nix 100% of his contract for the remainder of his deal if fired, and his buyout if he were to leave starts at $2 million before decreasing to $1 million for breaking his contract before December 20, 2025, and decreases to just $500k for breaking his deal before the last regular season game or conference title game of the 2026 season.
Neither Kelly nor Nix would owe Auburn a buyout at all if they were to leave for any of following three situations: a Division I head coaching opportunity, a play-calling coordinator position, or an NFL coaching position.
Stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.