It’s been quite the week for new Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian.
Sarkisian will remain as Alabama’s offensive coordinator for the national championship game against Ohio State on Jan. 11. Outside of preparing for college football’s biggest stage, he gratefully accepted a new position as the head football coach at the University of Texas on Jan. 2.
He likely won’t get much sleep this week while preparing for the national championship combined with building a new staff in Austin, agreeing to contract details and forming new relationships with players.
According to Chip Brown of Horns247, Sarkisian has agreed to a six-year contract worth $34.2 million — it’s currently awaiting approval by the University of Texas board of regents. His starting salary is expected to be $5.2 million, less than former coach Tom Herman’s $6 million salary in 2020.
Morning Brew @Horns247: Steve Sarkisian has agreed to a six-year, $34.2 million contract as the new head coach at #Texas with a starting salary of $5.2 million, a source close to the situation told Horns247.https://t.co/VtVLjCPS8p.
— Chip Brown (@ChipBrown247) January 5, 2021
Sarkisian’s salary will escalate by $200,000 each year of the contract until it reaches the $6.2 million range in 2026. After receiving a raise this year at Alabama, Sarkisian was making $2.5 annually to lead the most high-powered offense in the country.
The Longhorns originally hired Herman on Nov. 27, 2016 to a five-year contract worth $5 million annually in base salary. When Texas extended Herman to a two-year deal in 2019, his annual salary was expected to reach $6.5 million and $6.75 million from 2022-23.