Dabo Swinney won’t have to worry about borrowing money from his neighbors any time soon. On Thursday, Clemson University approved a new contract for its head football coach, which will make Swinney the second highest paid coach in the country, only behind Alabama’s Nick Saban.
According to TigerNet.com, Swinney’s new contract is a 10-year deal worth $115 million. The contract would keep the fifty-two-year-old with the Tigers through the 2031 season.
Swinney’s 10-year, $93 million contract, which he signed in 2019, had seven years and $66 million remaining. The new deal carries an annual average salary of $11.5 million per year. The package starts at $10.5 million this year and rises to $12.5 million in the final year, which will be the 2031 season. The contract is second only to Saban, who recently signed a $93.6 million contract extension that runs through the 2030 season.
“It is hard for me to believe I am in my 14th full season as your head coach, and I remain eternally grateful and honored for the opportunity to continue coaching and developing young people of excellence at Clemson.” Swinney said in a news release. “This agreement is representative of what has been collectively built here and the success we’ve had both academically and athletically. It is a reflection of the ALL-IN commitment of so many people, including our players, our staff, our fans, our administration and our university leadership. While I am certainly proud of our accomplishments on the field, the most rewarding part remains the relationships forged within this program and the ability to positively impact those around us.”
The timing of contract comes on the heels of a market change since the 2019. Along with Saban, new Southern Cal head coach Lincoln Riley has a contract reportedly worth around $110 million, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart’s new deal allows him to earn a base salary of $10,250,000 in 2022, with an escalator to $12,250,000 for the 2031 season. He will earn a total of $112.5 million across his 10-year extension.
