Florida Gators release contracts for 2015 coaches: Jim McElwain, Nussmeier, Collins, Shannon

By Adam Silverstein
August 5, 2015

The Florida Gators completely overhauled their coaching staff for 2015 and with the season set to unofficially kick off Wednesday with the team’s media day, the program’s athletic department decided to release the coaching salary information for head coach Jim McElwain and his assistants.

McElwain’s six-year contract, worth approximately $3.5 million annually when all monies are included, includes a pro-rated base salary of more than $307,000 in 2015 and subsequent salaries of $265,000 for each of the final five seasons of his deal.


He received a $500,000 signing bonus from the Gators and will also earn an annual retention bonus of $500,000. His expense account is pro-rated at nearly $116,000 for 2015 and moves to $100,000 every year thereafter. Additionally, McElwain is granted a $235,000 equipment agreement in year one ($203,200 thereafter), the use of two cars, $40,000 in personal travel allowances (private jet), $3,500 in apparel and a group of 12 season tickets to use as he pleases.

The remainder of his annual salary will come from a $2.2 million annual activities agreement with the program, from which he will earn $2.55 million in 2015.

Bonuses for McElwain include $37,500 for an SEC Championship appearance, $75,000 for an SEC Championship victory, $37,500 for a bowl game appearance, $100,000 for an Access Bowl game appearance, $150,000 for a College Football Playoff Semifinal appearance, $200,000 for a CFP National Championship appearance and $250,000 for a CFP title game victory. Should McElwain be named AP National Coach of the Year ($50,000) or SEC Coach of the Year ($25,000) he would also add some money to his bank. Finally, he will receive a $50,000 bonus if Florida finishes in the top 10 of either the AP or USA Today postseason polls.

Should McElwain be fired by the Gators before his contract comes to term, Florida would owe him $2.25 million per season, plus a prorated amount if he leaves in the middle of a campaign. He also has a buyout attached to his contract should another team try to pluck him from the Gators.

If McElwain chooses to leave before Jan. 31, 2016, he would owe the Gators $3.5 million ($2.5 million of which would go to Colorado State); before Jan. 31, 2017 – $3.2 million ($2 million to CSU), before Jan. 31, 2018 – $3 million ($1.5 million to CSU), before Jan. 31, 2019 – $2.5 million ($1 million to CSU), before Jan. 31, 2020 – $2 million ($500,000 to CSU), on or after Feb. 1 2020 – $1.5 million.

Coaching staff’s 2015 salaries compared with their counterparts in 2014:
[table “72” not found /]

^ Nussmeier signed a three-year, $1.545 million deal ($515,000 in year two, $540,000 in year three) to serve as Florida’s offensive coordinator. He can receive a $300,000 retention bonus ahead of the 2017 season.

* Collins signed a three-year, $1.77 million deal ($590,000 annually) to serve as the Gators’ defensive coordinator. He received a $100,000 signing bonus and is due retention bonuses of $125,000 for 2016 and $150,00 for 2017.

~ Shannon signed a three-year, $1.195 million deal ($390,000 in year two, $415,000 in year three) to serve as Florida’s co-coordinator and linebackers coach. He received a $200,000 signing bonus and is due retention bonuses of $100,000 for 2016 and $125,000 for 2017.

+ Rumph signed a two-year, $820,000 deal to serve as the Gators’ defensive line coach. He will receive a $10,000 raise in year two.

` Nord signed a two-year, $755,000 deal to serve as the Gators’ special teams coordinator and tight ends coach. He will receive a $25,000 raise in year two.

= Skipper signed a two-year, $705,000 deal to serve as Florida’s running backs coach. He will receive a $25,000 raise in year two.

# Callahan signed a two-year, $605,000 deal to serve as the Gators’ defensive backs coach. He will receive a $25,000 raise in year two.

/ Summers was the lone holdover from Will Muschamp’s staff and is entering the second season of his two-year, $380,000 contract.

– Dixon signed a two-year, $540,000 deal to serve as Florida’s wide receivers coach. He will receive a $10,000 raise in year two.

* The Gators in 2015 are spending $1.065 million more on coaching contracts and $315,000 more on assistant coaching contracts than they did in 2014.

[table “78” not found /]

Universal contract notes and bonuses (previous standards which are in the process of being confirmed for 2015:
– All coaches receive a $10,000 bonus from Florida’s contract with Nike
– All coaches receive use of a car and other tangible incentives, though Collins receives $6,000 to get his own car while the rest of the assistants receive dealer cars
– National Championship Game victory – 30 percent increase
– National Championship Game appearance – 25 percent increase
– Other championship-level bowl game appearance – 20 percent increase
– SEC Championship Game appearance – 10 percent increase
– Non-BCS bowl game – 10 percent increase
– Bowl game with less than $2 million payout – one month’s salary increase
– If team graduates at 85 percent – $4,000 for head coach, $1,500 for assistants

3 Comments

  1. Jeremy says:

    If I’m Mike Summers I’m sitting in Jeremy Foley’s office right now grumbling. He might have been the only bright spot last year. Dude, that ain’t right.

  2. Gatorgrad79 says:

    Why is the OL coach – arguably the most important unit, the lowest paid!?!?

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