Lane Kiffin contract: LSU coach’s salary, buyout revealed
By Luke Greco
Published:
LSU is making Lane Kiffin one of the highest-paid coaches in college football.
Kiffin signed a 7-year, $91 million deal with the Tigers, according to a copy of his term sheet acquired by Wilson Alexander of The Advocate. If Kiffin wins a national championship, his annual compensation would automatically increase to make him the highest-paid coach in the country.
Currently, Kirby Smart of Georgia is the highest-paid coach with a $13.28 million salary, according to USA Today. Kiffin will join Smart and Ohio State coach Ryan Day as the only college football coaches to make more than $12 million annually before incentives.
Kiffin’s previous deal earned him $9 million before bonuses, making him the 10th highest-paid coach in the country, according to USA Today.
It wasn’t long ago that LSU was paying former head coach Brian Kelly $10.1 million this year. Kelly was then fired and awarded nearly $54 million in his buyout. A few days after Kelly was fired, Gov. Jeff Landry criticized high-priced coaching contracts that could lead to large buyouts. He went on to call Kelly’s buyout a “liability.”
Well, history repeats itself, as LSU would owe Kiffin 80% of his remaining salary if the program fires him without cause.
