Money is good. National championship money is even better. The University of Alabama Board of Trustees Compensation Committee held a meeting Tuesday, approving the employment contracts of nine Crimson Tide assistant football coaches and women’s basketball head coach Kristy Curry.
AL.com was first to release the information.
Outside linebackers coach Tosh Lupoi, who’s been promoted to co-defensive coordinator, received the biggest bump in salary along with running backs coach/special teams coordinator Burton Burns.
Lupoi was approved for a two-year deal worth $550,000; a refreshing $125,000 increase from his $425,000 mark last season. Burns got a two-year contract worth $475,000; a $130,000 increase from his $345,000 stand in 2015. He mentored Derrick Henry into the program’s second Heisman Trophy winner, totaling 2,219 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns on 395 carries last year.
Defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt was approved for a $1 million contract. Despite the number being less than what he had at Georgia ($1.3 million), his contract will span the next three seasons. Pruitt’s predecessor, Kirby Smart, was the highest paid defensive coordinator nationally a year ago.
Smart brought in $1.5 million a year, prior to taking the head coaching position at Georgia.
Smart desired to bring Alabama’s strength and conditioning coach Scott Cochran to Georgia with him, but Saban and athletic director Bill Battle had other plans. Cochran received a $525,000 contract for three seasons (2019), bringing him more money than 900 other FBS coaches during the 2015 season according to Paul Myerberg of USA Today.
Alabama S&C coach Scott Cochrane's new $525,000 deal pays him more than almost 900 FBS assistant coaches, per 2015 database.
— Paul Myerberg (@PaulMyerberg) June 21, 2016
Offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin did not receive a raise for a second straight time, due to the buyout he encounter at USC in 2013. He was earning $3.4 million prior to being fired. The 40-year-old was approved for a $714,000 deal, as he enters his third season as Alabama’s play caller.
Listed below are the other contracts that were approved for Alabama assistant coaches
Wide receiver coach Billy Napier: two years, $350,000
Offensive line coach Mario Cristobal: two years, $525,000
Offensive line coach Brent Key: two years, $350,000
Defensive line coach Karl Dunbar: two years, $275,000
Secondary coach Derrick Ansley: two years, $395,000
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
