Nick Saban is once again the highest-paid football coach at a public university.
Alabama’s Board of Trustees approved a one-year extension and a raise for Saban during a meeting on Tuesday. The amended deal runs through February 2030 and will pay him an average of $11.7 million per year.
The raise edges Saban’s annual compensation over that of Georgia coach Kirby Smart, who signed a new deal earlier in the offseason which will pay him an average of $11.2 million over 10 years.
Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne also received an extension and raise on Tuesday. Byrne’s updated deal runs through June 2029 and pays him an average of $1.7 million per year.
Saban, whose seven national championships are the most all-time, would be 78 years old at the end of his updated contract.
The 70-year-old is coming off a season in which he won his 10th SEC title and appeared in the national championship game, losing to Georgia.
Saban’s contract includes a provision in which he and the university can revisit annually “marketplace trends regarding head football coach compensation.”
If Saban’s total guaranteed compensation is less than the average of the top three highest-paid coaches in the SEC or less than the average of the five highest-paid coaches nationally, the University agrees to pay Saban the higher of the two averages.
Also included in the contract are postseason bonuses: $75,000 for appearing in the SEC Championship Game or $125,000 for winning it; $200,000 for appearing in a New Year’s Six Bowl Game; $400,000 for appearing in a national championship semifinal game; $600,000 for appearing in a national championship game or $800,000 for winning it.
Alabama was voted the preseason favorite to win the SEC again this season. The Crimson Tide return Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Bryce Young.
Alabama opens the season on Sept. 3 at home against Utah State.