Vols’ Heupel lands extension, raise to $9M/year

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.– With Tennessee coming off its best season in more than two decades, football coach Josh Heupel has actually been rewarded with a contract extension that will pay him $9 million per year.The raise

of $4 million will take Heupel to fifth amongst SEC head football coaches. The only four higher are Alabama’s Nick Saban, Georgia’s Kirby Smart, Texas A&M’s Jimbo Fisher and LSU’s Brian Kelly. Heupel’s preliminary agreement paid him $4 million annually and he was bumped to $5 million last year.According to details

of Heupel’s brand-new contract launched by the university, his buyout would be 100%of what he was owed if he were terminated without cause prior to Dec. 15, 2025. The buyout would drop to 75%if he were fired in between Dec. 15, 2025 and Dec. 14, 2027. The buyout would reduce to 50 percent on Dec. 15, 2027. Editor’s Picks 2 Related Heupel’s rewards plan was also increased. He would make$

100,000 for making a bowl game and as much as$1 million for winning the championship game. Other rewards include $ 50,000 for completing in the Leading 25,$100,000 for ending up in the leading 10 and$150,000 for ending up in the leading 5 along with additional cash for playing in the SEC national championship, winning coach of the year and his team reaching particular academic progress rates. Heupel will likewise get increased private jet usage.If Heupel were to leave Tennessee, he would owe the school $8 million prior to Dec. 15. His buyout drops to $6 million up until Dec. 15, 2024,

and reduces by $1 million in each subsequent year. Heupel would owe Tennessee $2 million if he leaves prior to Dec. 15, 2028. “The results over Josh’s first two years promote themselves,” Tennessee athletic director Danny White said in a declaration. “He and his staff have actually stimulated both our football program and our fan base with an aggressive brand name of football, a competitive culture that produces leaders and an unrelenting method to raising the bar every day. In spite of a brief period of inactivity, Tennessee never ever surrendered its status as a college football powerhouse. We just needed an innovative leader like Josh Heupel to reignite the stimulate. “It’s been fun to crash the party, but as Josh stated after our Orange Bowl accomplishment [over Clemson], the best is yet to come.”In 2 seasons at Tennessee, Heupel is 18-8.

The Vols were 11-2 this past season and 7-6 in his first season. Before his arrival, Tennessee had suffered through losing seasons in 3 of the previous 4 years. Tennessee’s No. 6 surface in the last AP survey last season was its greatest because 2001. That seeks the Vols started the season unranked.Even more notably, Tennessee snapped a 15-game losing streak against Alabama a year ago with a thrilling 52-49 victory over the Crimson Tide that triggered a wild event at Neyland Arena. The Vols also beat Florida 38-33 in the house, just their 2nd success over the Gators in the previous 18 meetings. For viewpoint, entering last season, Tennessee was 4-38 versus its primary 3 rivals– Alabama, Florida and Georgia– returning to Phillip Fulmer’s last season in 2008. Heupel stated in a statement:”Our staff takes terrific pride in representing the Power T, and it’s something we never ever take for approved. We will continue to work relentlessly to build a champion program that all of Vol Nation and all VFLs can be pleased with. Most notably, our players are the people who should have all of the credit for our renewal on Rocky Top. “The Vols broke 15 single-season records in 2022 and led the nation in scoring offense (46.1 points), overall offense(525.5 backyards ), passing efficiency (181.4)and overall touchdowns( 79) for the first time in school history. They defeated six nationally ranked groups, connecting the 1998 championship game team for the most in program history.Tennessee’s No. 1 ranking in the initial College Football Playoff rankings last season was its very first in school history. The Vols hosted ESPN’s”College GameDay”two times last season and sold out 6 straight games in your home. Their finalizing class for the 2023 season is ranked 15th nationally by ESPN, and they likewise generated several extremely related to transfers at key positions.