Florida Gators release coaches contracts for 2017: Randy Shannon gets massive raise

By Adam Silverstein
July 28, 2017
Florida Gators release coaches contracts for 2017: Randy Shannon gets massive raise
Football

Image Credit: GatorVision

The Florida Gators head coach Jim McElwain made three new hires to his coaching staff in 2017 and was forced to rearrange some present staff members following departures at the conclusion of the 2016 campaign. With the season set to kick off in just over a month, the program’s athletic department decided to release the updated salary information for McElwain and his assistants.

Most notable is the updated contract for new defensive coordinator Randy Shannon, who was promoted from co-coordinator and saw his salary jump from $490,000 to $890,000, the same salary Geoff Collins earned a year ago prior to departing to become head coach at Temple. Shannon signed a three-year, $2.67 million contract and received a $75,000 retention bonus in March.

Running backs coach JaJuan Seider is the highest-paid of the newly hired assistants, bringing in $335,000 with a bump to $345,000 in 2018 as part of his two-year contract. On similar deals are new defensive backs coach Corey Bell ($290,000 in 2017, $315,000 in 2018) and offensive line coach Brad Davis ($290,000 in 2017, $315,000 in 2018).

Florida is paying nearly $260,000 less this year for its defensive back and offensive line coaches compared to a year ago after more veteran assistants Torrian Gray and Mike Summers left the program.

The Gators announced in June that McElwain’s contract was extended through 2022 on what has become a six-year, $26.9 million deal. McElwain added $6.1 million in total salary, an average increase of $320,000 per season, plus the additional year. With retention ($750,000 each January through 2022) and performance bonuses, McElwain has the potential to exceed $5 million in annual earnings.

After increasing their coaching spending by $750,000 for assistants ahead of the 2016 season, Florida appears to have decreased its expenditures by $250,000 for 2017. UF is still paying assistants nearly $1 million more than their counterparts three years ago. OnlyGators.com is still waiting for updated contract information for three assistants whose previous deals expired after the 2016 season.

Coaching staff’s 2017 salaries and notes ($10,000 Nike payment not included)

2017 Coach2016 Coach
Jim McElwain
Head coach
$4.5 million []
Jim McElwain
Head coach
$3.5 million
Randy Shannon
Defensive coordinator
$890,000*
Geoff Collins
Defensive coordinator
$890,000
Doug Nussmeier
Offensive coordinator
$833,000^
Doug Nussmeier
Offensive coordinator
$515,000
Chris Rumph
Defensive line
$590,000+
Chris Rumph
Defensive line
$490,000
Greg Nord
Special teams/TEs
$410,000
Greg Nord
Special teams/TEs
$390,000
Tim Skipper
Linebackers
$447,000~
Randy Shannon
Co-coordinator/LBs

$399,750
JaJuan Seider
Running backs
$335,000@
Tim Skipper
Running backs

$440,000
Brad Davis
Offensive line
$290,000&
Mike Summers
Offensive line
$488,500
Corey Bell
Secondary
$290,000#
Torrian Gray
Secondary
$325,000
Kerry Dixon
Wide receivers
$290,000-
Kerry Dixon
Wide receivers
$275,000

[] McElwain receives a $175,000 expense account, use of two cars, $253,200 in equipment, $40,000 in personal travel allowances (private jet), $32,400 in pension, $3,500 in apparel and a group of 12 season tickets to use as he pleases. He also gets $350,000 annually from Nike. The remainder of his annual salary comes from a $2.65 million annual activities agreement with the program. His base salary is $275,700.

Performance bonuses for McElwain could reach $875,000 (up from $450,000) in a single year. He can earn up to $100,000 for academic success (up from $4,000) as well as $100,000 for reaching the SEC Championship Game (up from $37,500) OR $200,000 for winning the SEC Championship (up from $75,000). Further into the postseason, McElwain can add $200,000 for a New Year’s Six bowl appearance (up from $100,000) OR $250,000 for advancing to the College Football Playoff (up from $150,000) OR $300,000 for playing in the CFP National Championship (up from $200,000) OR $400,000 for winning the national title (up from $250,000). He can also earn $75,000 for AP National Coach of the Year (up from $50,000) and $50,000 for SEC Coach of the Year (up from $25,000) awards as well as $100,000 if UF top-10 finishes in either the AP or USA Today postseason polls (up from $50,000).

Should McElwain be fired by the Gators before his contract comes to term, Florida would owe him $2.5 million per season, plus a prorated amount if he leaves in the middle of a campaign. The only mitigation would occur if he joined another SEC program. He also has a buyout attached to his contract should another team try to pluck him from the Gators. If McElwain chooses to leave before Jan. 31, 2018, he would owe the Gators $3 million ($1.5 million of which would go to Colorado State), before Jan. 31, 2019 – $2.5 million ($1 million to CSU), before Jan. 31, 2020 – $2 million ($500,000 to CSU), on or after Feb. 1 2020 – $1.5 million.

* Shannon received a $400,000 raise as part of his promotion to defensive coordinator. He is now on a three-year, $2.67 million contract that expires following the 2019 season. Shannon can receive retention bonuses of $100,000 in March 2018 and $125,000 in March 2019.

^ Nussmeier is in the third year of a three-year, $1.545 million deal with a planned $25,000 increase for year three. He also received a $300,000 retention bonus ahead of the 2017 season.

+ Rumph received a $65,000 raise (in addition to his planned $10,000 increase) in 2016 and additional year on what was formerly a two-year, $820,000 contract. He is in the final year of his contract.

` Nord was entering the last year of his contract in 2016 and signed a new deal. Awaiting details.

~ Skipper moved from running backs coach to linebackers coach in the offseason. He was entering the last year of his contract in 2016 and signed a new deal. Awaiting details.

@ Seider signed a two-year, $680,000 contract beginning in 2017. There is a $100,000 penalty for terminating his contract without cause before its conclusion.

& Davis signed a two-year, $605,000 contract beginning in 2017. There is a $100,000 penalty for terminating his contract without cause before its conclusion.

# Bell signed a two-year, $605,000 contract beginning in 2017. There is a $100,000 penalty for terminating his contract without cause before its conclusion.

– Dixon was entering the last year of his contract in 2016 and signed a new deal. Awaiting details.

Universal assistant notes and bonuses:

– All coaches receive a $1,500 academic incentive
– All coaches receive a $10,000 bonus from Florida’s contract with Nike
– All coaches receive use of a dealer car and other tangible incentives
– Play in the SEC Championship game: 10 percent increase
– Play in a bowl game: 1 additional month salary
– OR play in a New Year’s Day Bowl: 10 percent increase
– OR play in the College Football Playoff: 20 percent increase
– OR play in the College Football Playoff National Championship: 25 percent increase
– OR win the College Football Playoff National Championship: 30 percent increase

The information above was signed by coaches at an earlier date and released to OnlyGators.com as part of a public records request made to the University of Florida’s University Athletic Association.

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