Alabama gives DeBoer 8-year, $87 million deal; AD Greg Byrne, hoops coach Nate Oats get raises
New Alabama football coach Kalen DeBoer has received an eight-year contract worth at least $87 million, and the school also gave basketball coach Nate Oats and athletic director Greg Byrne raises and extensions.
The 49-year-old DeBoer, who replaced seven-time national champion Nick Saban after leading Washington to the national championship game in his second season, is set to make $10 million in his first year.
The contracts received formal approval from the UA System Board of Trustees compensation committee on Monday.
“High-level investment from high-level coaches is an important part of the success that we’ve had in our department," Byrne told trustees. “I feel strongly that we continue to show that with the additional steps we’re taking today.”
DeBoer's deal runs through Dec. 31, 2033, and calls for a salary of $11.75 million in his final year after $250,000 annual raises.
His bonuses include $600,000 for playing in a national championship game and $875,000 for winning the title. DeBoer made $4.2 million at Washington in his final year.
Oats' new six-year contract calls for him to make $5 million this year, rising to $7.55 million in his final year through March 14, 2030.
Bryne announced Friday night that Oats had signed a new contract but the details weren’t released until Monday. Oats has led Alabama to the NCAA Tournament four years in a row and the Crimson Tide received their first No. 1 seed last season.
The contract comes with a hefty buyout of $18 million if Oats leaves in the first two years, which Byrne said is the highest in college basketball.
Oats' previous deal was worth $4.5 million annually through the 2029 season.
"We have enjoyed tremendous success during our five years at Alabama and we look forward to building on that for many years to come,” Oats said in a statement.
Like DeBoer, Alabama gave Byrne an eight-year deal, set to pay him just over $2 million annually. Byrne took over as athletic director in January 2017 and was charged with replacing Saban, who won six of his titles at Alabama.
“Greg’s done an incredible job of leading our athletics program since his arrival, and certainly during this time of great changes in our athletics world,” university president Stuart Bell told trustees.
Trustees also approved deals for DeBoer's assistants and raises for two of Oats' assistants:
—Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Nick Sheridan received a three-year deal worth $4.5 million. He also was paid $650,000 from Jan. 23-31.
—Defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Kane Wommack is set to make $5.1 million over three years.
—Assistant head coach/co-offensive coordinator Jamarcus Shephard is set to make $1.1 million annually under his two-year deal.
—Colin Hitschler, co-defensive coordinator/defensive backs, is set to make $1.975 million over two years. That counts $625,000 from Jan. 23-Feb. 29.
—Bryan Ellis, tight ends, will make $1.1 million over two years.
—Associate head coach/defensive line Freddie Roach will make $1 million the first year and $1.1 million the second.
—Strength and conditioning coach David Ballou's two-year deal is worth $950,000 each year.
—Assistant head coach/running backs Robert Gillespie is set to make $1.7 million over two years.
—Offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic and co-defensive coordinator/DBs Maurice Linguist will each make $875,000 their first year and $925,000 the second.
—Outside linebackers coach Christian Robinson will make $650,000 each of the next two years.
—Football general manager Courtney Morgan will make $500,000 annually in his two-year deal.
—Special teams coordinator Rojelio Nunez's deal is two years at $250,000 each.
—Basketball assistant Preston Murphy is set to make $450,000 a year under a two-year deal. Fellow assistant Ryan Pannone's two-year deal is worth $360,000 per.
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