SEC football fans if you are keeping score at home, Urban Meyer is now the highest paid coach in the SEC.Meyer agreed to a 6 year contract extension that pays him $24 million. He will make $4 million per year.
"Coach Meyer has certainly proven to be one of the top college football coaches in the country and should be compensated as such," UF athletic director Jeremy Foley said in a statement released by UF on Monday. "We are proud he is our coach and we appreciate all that he has done for the Gators."
The money that will fund coach Meyer's salary will come from the University Athletic Association which is a private foundation, no state funds are used. This is big because the University of Florida recently announced $42 million in budget cuts, layoffs of nine faculty members and 49 staff employees, and an expected 15 percent tuition increase.
Coach Meyer is living large. 2 national championships in 3 years will do that.
Meyer's new deal makes him the 3rd highest paid coach in college football behind USC's Pete Carroll ($4.4 million) and Notre Dame's Charlie Weis ($4.2 million).
This move also escalates the financial arms race in the SEC between Meyer and Alabama head coach Nick Saban, who is negotiating a contract extension too. How long will Meyer keep the highest paid title?
Give Meyer props for giving back. $1 million over the duration of his contract is committed to the Florida Opportunity Scholars Program. This program was created by University of Florida President Bernie Machen to provide financial help to first-generation, financially disadvantaged students.
Photo Courtesy: Gator Sports.com
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