Texas is set to double the annual salary of football coach Steve Sarkisian.
The proposed four-year contract extension — announced by Texas officials on Jan. 13 with no financial details revealed — will go in front of the University of Texas System board of regents for consideration at their Feb 21-22 meeting, according to a published agenda book for that meeting.
Sarkisian, 49, is currently halfway through a six-year contract that’s scheduled to pay him $5.8 million in 2024, $6 million in 2025 and $6.2 million in 2026. If approved, the new contract would pay him $10.3 million in 2024 and then provide an annual increase of $100,000, capped at $10.9 million in 2030, per the documents attached to the agenda.
Sarkisian also can earn up to $1.85 million in annual performance bonuses, based on how successful the team is in the playoffs and which awards he has earned. If he receives the maximum bonus allowed, it would mean the Longhorns won the CFP national championship and Sarkisian earned the conference coach of the year (coaches vote) and at least one national coach of the year award.
Chances are good for at least some of these accomplishments given recent performances by Sarkisian and the Longhorns, who just had their most successful season in a decade. They posted a 12-2 record on the way to a Big 12 championship and an appearance in the CFP, albeit a 37-31 loss to the Washington Huskies in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1.
Other perks of the contract include two cars, limited use of a private plane, up to 12 tickets and a suite for all home games, and up to eight tickets for road games.
The Longhorns finished at No. 3 in the AP Poll, the highest final ranking for Texas in 15 years.
Sarkisian earned Big 12 coach of the year recognition and was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson, Bear Bryant and George Munger coach of the year awards.
“I said it when I came here three years ago, this is a dream job for me,” Sarkisian said in a statement last month. “It’s a destination job, and I’m fired up every day to be the head coach at The University of Texas. We’re thrilled with what we’ve been able to accomplish and proud of the culture we’ve built and the way our players have grown — on and off the field. But we’re just getting started. I’ve said it all along, we’ve been building this program for long term success.”
Sarkisian has a 25-14 record in his three seasons in Austin.
