Texas coach Steve Sarkisian’s salary will nearly double once the university’s Board of Regents approves the terms of his contract extension. Sarkisian, who made $5.6 million last year, will see his guaranteed compensation increase to $10.3 million this year under the terms of the deal, which were published in advance of the board’s Feb. 21-22 meeting in Austin, Texas.
By the final year of Sarkisian’s deal in 2030, his pay will increase to $10.9 million. Also included in the contract are performance incentives that could total as much as $1.85 million per year. Most notably, Sarkisian receives $1.25 million if Texas wins the College Football Playoff National Championship.
Sarkisian ranked No. 30 nationally among FBS coaches in total pay in 2023, according to USA Today’s salary database. The raise will put him comfortably into the top 10 and not far behind national title winners Kirby Smart of Georgia and Dabo Swinney of Clemson.
Texas announced last month that Sarkisian had agreed to a four-year contract extension, but the terms were not made public then. Among the deal’s other perks revealed ahead of the Board of Regents meeting are that Sarkisian will receive 20 hours per year of private aircraft use, two vehicles and a “special one-time payment” of $300,000 prior to April 1.
Extending Sarkisian’s contract became a priority once his name became connected with the Alabama job following legendary coach Nick Saban’s retirement. Sarkisian served as the Crimson Tide’s offensive coordinator in 2019 and 2020 under Saban before landing the Texas job. Alabama turned to former Washington coach Kalen DeBoer as Saban’s successor.
Sarkisian coached the Longhorns to a Big 12 championship and College Football Playoff appearance during his third…
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