Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart joined the club of assistant coaches who make $1 million per season thanks to the Alabama Board of Trustees Compensation Committee on Tuesday, per AL.com.
Alabama football: Kirby Smart, Nick Saban assistants get pay increases
Kirby Smart’s salary cracks a million dollars, as Alabama ponied up to ensure their coaching staff gets the salaries they deserve after a second straight national title.
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Smart will make $1.15 million this upcoming season, and that number will be bumped to $1.35 million in the final two years of his contract. The 37-year-old, who has spent most of his career under Saban, was already in rarefied air amongst assistants - he joins former USC defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin and Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris as the only assistants to top the million-dollar mark in salary. Kiffin made $1.5 million in 2010, while Morris was at $1.3 million in 2012. Under Smart, the Alabama defense has finished No. 1 each of the last two years in Football Outsiders’ S&P rankings.
Nick Saban didn’t receive a raise - he didn’t ask for one, so his salary remains at an average of $5.6 million - but he did receive a series of bonus provisions for scenarios in which his squad makes the upcoming four-team playoff system. He can earn up to $400,000 for a national title, or $200,000 if his team just makes the four-game bracket. Smart becomes the first Alabama coordinator to make more than $1 million annually.
The Board of Trustees also made other changes to ensure none of his assistants - from offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier ($680,000) down to his secondary coach Greg Brown and wide receivers coach Billy Napier ($300,000 each) - will be making less than $300,000 a season, which should prevent coaching attrition for one of the strongest staffs in college football.
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