Florida Gators football coach contracts 2018: Todd Grantham becomes highest-paid assistant

By Adam Silverstein
May 8, 2018
Florida Gators football coach contracts 2018: Todd Grantham becomes highest-paid assistant
Football

Image Credit: Tim Casey / UAA

Nearly five months after Florida Gators head coach Dan Mullen filled out his initial coaching staff in his return to the program, we now know not only how that staff will be structured but how it will be compensated, too.

In addition to Mullen’s six-year, $36 million contract, the Gators have agreed to add one of its assistants to the three comma club by signing defensive coordinator Todd Grantham to a three-year, $4.47 million deal. Grantham will earn $1.39 million for the 2018 season, a salary that makes him the highest-paid assistant in program history and would have ranked him fifth nationally among his peers one year ago.

Co-offensive coordinators Billy Gonzales and John Hevesy have identical two-year, $1.2 million contracts with each earning $565,000 for 2018. Veteran defensive line coach Sal Sunseri is the next highest paid with an identical $565,000 salary for the upcoming season.

In all, Florida has committed over $4.7 million to its assistants, fulfilling its promise of a $5 million pool for Mullen. With 2019 escalators (see below), the Gators will easily eclipse that $5 million pool barring staff changes. UF paid $4.4 million to its assistants in 2017, though it only had to pay nine coaches that season.

Figures below represent the assistants’ salaries not counting guaranteed bonuses as outlined at the bottom of the story. The head coach’s figure is his total compensation all monies included aside from potential result-based bonuses.

2018 Coach2017 Coach
Dan Mullen
Head coach
$6.1 million
Jim McElwain
Head coach
$4.5 million
Todd Grantham
Defensive coordinator
$1.4 million
Randy Shannon
Defensive coordinator
$890,000
Billy Gonzales
Co-offensive coordinator/WRs
$565,000
Doug Nussmeier
Offensive coordinator
$833,000
John Hevesy
Co-offensive coordinator/OL
$565,000
Brad Davis
Offensive line
$290,000
Sal Sunseri
Defensive line
$565,000
Chris Rumph
Defensive line
$590,000
Greg Knox
Special teams/RBs
$440,000
Greg Nord
Special teams/TEs
$410,000
Brian Johnson
Quarterbacks
$415,000
JaJuan Seider
Running backs
$335,000
Ron English
Safeties
$325,000
Corey Bell
Secondary
$290,000
Charlton Warren
Cornerbacks
$190,000
n/a
Larry Scott
Tight ends
$190,000
Kerry Dixon
Wide receivers
$290,000
Christian Robinson
Linebackers
$80,000
Tim Skipper
Linebackers
$447,000

Mullen’s six-year, $36 million contract includes an average of $6.1 million per season with a base salary of $3 million and no annual escalators. The remaining $3 million of his contract: media obligations ($1.75 million), equipment allowance ($700,000), Nike contract ($350,000), expense account ($200,000), private jet ($70,000), pension ($33,000). Mullen also receives an additional maximum allowance of $62,000 for various fringe benefits including use of a car, game tickets, travel, etc.

His maximum bonus is set at $925,000 per season, including up to $100,000 for academic achievement. Mullen would achieve that through the academic standard, winning the College Football Playoff ($400,000), winning the SEC Championship Game ($200,000), finishing in the top 10 ($100,000) and being named both the national and SEC coach of the year ($75,000, $50,000). Other potential payouts include $300,000 for advancing to the CFP National Championship, $250,000 for a CFP Semifinal, $200,000 for a New Year’s Six game, $100,000 for any bowl game and $100,000 for making it to the SEC Championship Game.

Mullen’s buyout is set at $12 million regardless of how many years are left on his deal with 50 percent payable in the 30 days following his termination and the rest split over a six-year period. Should Mullen choose to leave the Gators, $2 million would be owed back to the program.

Grantham signed a three-year, $4.47 million contract beginning in 2018 with $100,000 escalators each season ($1.49 million, $1.59 million).

Gonzalez signed a two-year, $1.2 million contract beginning in 2018 with a $25,000 escalator in Year 2 ($590,000).

Hevesy signed a two-year, $1.2 million contract beginning in 2018 with a $25,000 escalator in Year 2 ($590,000).

Sunseri signed a two-year, $1.1 million contract beginning in 2018.

Knox signed a two-year, $880,000 contract beginning in 2018.

Johnson signed a two-year, $855,000 contract beginning in 2018 with a $25,000 escalator in Year 2 ($440,000).

English signed a two-year, $680,000 contract beginning in 2018.

Warren signed a two-year, $580,000 contract beginning in 2018 with a $200,000 escalator in Year 2 ($390,000).

Scott signed a two-year, $605,000 contract beginning in 2018 with a $225,000 escalator in Year 2 ($415,000).

Robinson signed a two-year, $160,000 contract beginning in 2018.

Director of strength & conditioning Nick Savage signed a two-year, $500,000 contract beginning in 2018.

All assistants receive a dealer car, $10,000 annually from the Nike equipment contract and a $1,500 bonus. Grantham and Gonzales can accept a $6,000 annual car allowance in lieu of a dealer car.

No signing bonuses are listed in any of the contracts. Per language in the contracts: “Postseason bonuses will be calculated based on the individual coach’s annual compensation (base salary and equipment supplement) at the time of the event(s) for which the bonus is earned.”

Mitigation clauses are listed as 20 percent of remaining contract value for every assistant besides Grantham and Johnson who takes a non-head coaching role. Grantham will only owe 20 percent if he takes an NCAA assistant job, while Johnson would owe $300,000 if he leaves for a position other than head coach for the next two years.

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