Auburn football has undergone some significant staff changes for Hugh Freeze’s second season. On Monday, Matt Cohen of AL.com broke down contract details for co-defensive coordinator Charles Kelly and offensive coordinator/running backs coach Derrick Nix after receiving the information via a public records request.

Kelly is on contract through Jan. 31, 2027. His annual salary starts at $875,000, with a raise to $950,000 on Feb. 1, 2026. If Kelly breaks his contract to leave, he will owe Auburn. The amount Kelly owes would be 100% before the final regular-season game of 2024, 50% before the 2025 and 25% before the 2026 season finale.

Nix’s deal also runs through Jan. 31, 2027. He has a starting salary of $800,000 with raises of $100,000 on Feb. 1, 2025 and Feb. 1, 2026. Nix is also eligible to receive retention bonuses of $100,000 on July 1, 2025 and July 1, 2026.

Nix would owe Auburn $2 million if he breaks his contract before Dec. 20, 2024. The amount drops to $1 million on Dec. 20, 2025. If Nix breaks the contract before the 2026 regular-season finale or conference championship game, he owes Auburn $500,000.

As far as buy-outs, both contracts state that the remainder is to be paid if fired. Neither new hire will owe Auburn a buy-out if they accept a Division I head coaching position, play-calling coordinator position or NFL coaching position. Both coaches are set to receive postseason bonuses for bowl games and the SEC Championship Game.

Kelly, an Auburn alum, comes home after a season on Deion Sanders’ Colorado staff as defensive coordinator and safeties coach. A long-time defensive assistant with multiple decades of experience, Kelly was on staff for national championship seasons at Alabama (2020 – associate defensive coordinator and safeties coach) and Florida State (2013 – special teams coordinator and linebackers coach).

Nix arrives on The Plains after 16 seasons on staff at Ole Miss. He was the Rebels’ running backs coach for 12 seasons before coaching wide receivers the past four seasons under Lane Kiffin. Nix also held the title of assistant head coach the past two seasons.