It’s fair to say some Tennessee fans weren’t thrilled by the hire of Josh Heupel to be the next leader of the football program Rocky Top.
That being said, based on the contract it took to get the former UCF coach to Knoxville, Danny White and the leadership at the school have a ton of confidence in the coach to get the football program moving in the right direction. Either that, or it took a ton of money for Tennessee to even attract a coach to Knoxville.
According to the contract released by Tennessee on Wednesday, Heupel has been given a six-year deal worth $4 million annually.
Should Tennessee be forced to move on from Heupel, the coach’s buyout is significant. If he’s let go without cause before Dec. 15, 2023, Tennessee would owe Heupel the remaining salary on his contract.
The buyout is reduced to 75 percent of the remaining contract if Heupel is let go between Dec. 15, 2023, and Dec. 15, 2025. The buyout again drops to 50 percent of the remaining contract if he is let go during the final two years of the deal.
Here are some of the bonuses included in Heupel’s contract:
- SEC Championship Game win: $300,000
- SEC Championship Game appearance: $100,000
- College Football Playoff national championship win: $500,000
- College Football Playoff national championship appearance: $400,000
- College Football Playoff appearance: $300,000
- New Year’s Six bowl appearance: $200,000
- Bowl appearance: $100,000
- National Coach of the Year Award: $100,000
- SEC Coach of the Year Award: $50,000
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
