UF’s Meyer now highest-paid coach
GAINESVILLE (AP) – Florida coach Urban Meyer has two national championships in the last three years and the same number of raises.
Meyer signed a six-year contract Monday worth $4 million annually, up from $3.25 million, after leading the Gators to the national title in January. The new deal makes Meyer the highest-paid coach in the Southeastern Conference – at least for now.
Alabama’s Nick Saban, scheduled to make $3.9 million this season, is reportedly negotiating a contract extension. LSU’s Les Miles has a clause in his contract that guarantees him $1,000 more than any coach in the league if he leads the Tigers to a national championship.
“Coach Meyer has certainly proven to be one of the top college football coaches in the country and should be compensated as such,” athletic director Jeremy Foley said in a statement. “We are proud he is our coach and we appreciate all that he has done for the Gators.”
Foley said in June he planned to work on a new contract for Meyer and acknowledged the “sensitivity” of giving the coach a hefty raise during an economic downturn. The university recently announced $42 million in budget cuts and layoffs of nine faculty members and 49 staff employees.
The state-funded school doesn’t pay Meyer’s salary. The University Athletic Association, a separate entity that funds the school’s athletic department, does.
Nonetheless, Meyer decided to give some of his money back to the school. Meyer, the co-chairman of the university’s Florida Opportunity Scholars Program, committed $1 million to the program over the duration of his contract. School president Bernie Machen created the program to provide financial assistance to first-generation, financially disadvantaged students working toward bachelor’s degrees.
“I continue to be very thankful and appreciative for everything the University of Florida and the athletic program has done for me and my family,” Meyer said in a statement. “Dr. Machen, Jeremy Foley and the community make this a special place and I’m honored to be a part of it.”
Meyer came to Florida following the 2004 season and has led the Gators to a 44-9 record in four seasons.