Alabama gives Saban a three-year contract extension

Associated Press

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama is giving football coach Nick Saban plenty of incentive to stick around.

University trustees on Tuesday approved a three-year extension through the 2024 season. Under terms of the deal, Saban could earn $65 million over the next eight years. Saban will make $11.125 million this year, which includes a $4 million signing bonus and a $400,000 completion bonus.

The 65-year-old Saban, who has led Alabama to four national titles in the past seven seasons, said the extension ensures “our time here in Tuscaloosa will continue for many more years.”

“This has become our home and we are looking forward to finishing our career at Alabama,” he said in a statement.

Saban, who won the 2013 BCS title at LSU, and Bear Bryant are the only coaches to win five national championships in the AP poll era dating back to 1936. In January, Alabama lost to Clemson in the championship game after winning its fourth Southeastern Conference title in five years and third straight.

Saban will get up to $7.2 million in annual completion bonuses, with half of that due after the 2021 season. His base salary and “talent fee” will be $6.725 million each year, a slight decrease more than made up for through the bonuses.

It was the big-money deal among a number approved Tuesday by the trustees’ compensation committee in a conference call.

The trustees also approved a five-year deal for new athletic director Greg Byrne and raises for his assistants. Byrne will make $900,000 a year, with $25,000 annual raises starting next year.

New offensive coordinator Brian Daboll will make $1.2 million annually under his three-year deal. Defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt’s new three-year contract is worth $4.2 million, including $100,000 raises each year.

Alabama gave Saban an eight-year deal worth $6.9 million annually in 2014 . That marked a $1.3 million raise.

Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh is making $7 million a year , including a $2 million annual life insurance premium.

The Tide has won double-digit games for nine straight seasons and made each of the first three College Football Playoffs.

“It is an exciting day when we can announce that the best football coach in the country has agreed to a contract extension,” Byrne said. “Before I came to Alabama, I was always impressed with Coach Saban and how he ran his program. After being here and seeing first-hand the job that he does, I’ve come away even more impressed.

“Coach Saban has obviously won a lot of football games and championships, but he has also done an outstanding job when it comes to academics and community service. I don’t think you can measure the positive impact he and (wife) Ms. Terry have made over the last decade. We look forward to working with them for many years to come.”

University President Stuart R. Bell said Alabama’s success in football under Saban has helped the school overall.

“It is truly remarkable when you look at what Coach Saban has accomplished here over the last decade and how the success of the football program has raised the overall profile of our institution,” Bell said. “Those accomplishments are not just on the field, as he has also done an outstanding job emphasizing academics and character development with our student-athletes.”

Outside linebackers coach Tosh Lupoi got the biggest raise among the other assistants, a $400,000 pay increase to $950,000.

The new deals for the rest of Saban’s assistants, with two-year deals except where noted:

— New co-offensive coordinator Mike Locksley, an analyst last season, will make $1.2 million over the next two years.

— Joe Pannunzio, tight ends/special teams, $375,000.

— Brent Key, offensive line, goes from $350,000 to $400,000.

— Burton Burns, running backs coach, gets a $15,000 raise to $490,000.

— Derrick Ansley, defensive backs, will make $405,000, up from $395,000.

— Karl Dunbar, defensive line, will make $275,000 this year and $575,000 in 2018.

— Scott Cochran, strength and conditioning, will make $535,000 annually under his three-year deal, a $10,000 raise.