The Alabama Crimson Tide football team may change from year to year, but the school is making sure the coaching staff remains intact, granting extensions and raises to defensive coordinator Kirby Smart and several other assistants.
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Per a report from BamaOnline.com, the University of Alabama system Board of Trustees Compensation Committee announced the approved extensions and pay raises via teleconference on Tuesday.
Smart was given a one-year extension through 2017 and no change to his salary of $1.15 million per year, while offensive live coach Mario Cristobal, outside linebackers coach Lance Thompson, tight ends coach Bobby Williams, strength and conditioning coach Scott Cochran, running backs coach Burton Burns and wide receivers coach Billy Napier were all given raises and one-year extensions through 2016.
This announcement comes on the Heels of Alabama approving an extension to head coach Nick Saban that will run through Jan. 21, 2022 and will pay Saban $6.5 million per year.
When schools have a consistently winning program, as the Tide has over the past eight seasons, keeping the coaching staff in place is a no-brainer. Consistency in coaching also gives a huge boost to recruiting efforts, as many potential recruits are wary of coaches who tend to flutter from school to school.
Smart has long been regarded as head coach material, but the the program has paid him handsomely to remain at Alabama as their minister of defense. So if you were hoping your school might find a way to lure Kirby Smart away from Bama, they’ll have to seriously ante up and make it worth his while.