A breakdown of what Auburn football assistants are making in Year 2 of the Hugh Freeze era
AUBURN — Auburn football will pay just more than $6.4 million to the 10 on-field assistants on its staff in the second year of coach Hugh Freeze's tenure with the Tigers.
Freeze replaced half of his staff this offseason — including both coordinators — as OC Philip Montgomery was fired, DC Ron Roberts left for a role at Florida, defensive line coach Jeremy Garrett opted to pursue a career in the NFL with the Jacksonville Jaguars and two former players turned coaches — running backs coach Cadillac Williams and safeties coach Zac Etheridge — resigned.
The five retentions on the staff — tight ends coach Ben Aigamaua, edge defender coach Josh Aldridge, wide receivers coach Marcus Davis, cornerbacks coach Wesley McGriff and offensive line coach Jake Thornton — are back for a second year under Freeze. McGriff briefly left for Texas A&M during the offseason before reversing course and returning to the Tigers on a new contract.
McGriff's bonus structure remained the same in his new deal, which is inline with the rest of the staff. Auburn assistants will receive a bonus of $15,000 for making it to the SEC Championship Game and would get another $15,000 if the Tigers won it. Other bonuses include reaching a College Football Playoff game (12% of salary), making an appearance in the CFP Semifinals (16%), securing a spot in the title game (20%) and winning a national championship (25%).
The assistants can also earn bonuses for making it to these bowl games:
Birmingham Bowl (4%)
Liberty Bowl (4%)
Independence Bowl (4%)
Music City Bowl (6%)
Texas Bowl (6%)
Belk Bowl (6%)
Tax Slayer Bowl (8%)
Outback Bowl (8%)
Capital One Bowl (8%)
Citrus Bowl (8%)
Here's a look at what each individual is due this year, according to copies of their contracts obtained by the Montgomery Advertiser.
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*Indicates a retention that received a raise from last year.
DJ Durkin (DC/LBs coach)
Term: Feb. 1, 2024-Jan. 31, 2027
Total annual compensation: $1.2 million
Note: Durkin's annual compensation will increase by $200,000 on Feb. 1, 2025. It'll increase by another $200,000 on Feb. 1, 2026.
Charles Kelly (Co-DC)
Term: Dec. 29, 2023-Jan. 31, 2027
Total annual compensation: $875,000
Note: Kelly's annual compensation will increase by $75,000 on Feb. 1, 2026.
Derrick Nix (OC/RBs coach)
Term: Jan. 16, 2024-Jan. 31, 2027
Total annual compensation: $800,000
Note: Nix's annual compensation will increase by $100,000 on Feb. 1, 2025. It'll increase by another $100,000 on Feb. 1, 2026.
*Wesley McGriff (CBs coach)
Term: Jan. 12, 2024-Jan. 31, 2026
Total annual compensation: $650,000
Note: McGriff's annual compensation will increase by $100,000 on Feb. 1, 2025.
*Jake Thornton (OL coach)
Term: Dec. 5, 2022-Jan. 31, 2025
Total annual compensation: $600,000
*Josh Aldridge (EDGE coach)
Term: Dec. 19, 2022-Jan. 31, 2026
Total annual compensation: $500,000
Note: Aldridge's annual compensation will increase by $50,000 on Feb. 1, 2025.
Vontrell King-Williams (DTs coach)
Term: Feb. 7, 2024-Jan. 31, 2026
Total annual compensation: $500,000
*Ben Aigamaua (TEs coach)
Term: Dec. 1, 2022-Jan. 31, 2026
Total annual compensation: $450,000
Note: Aigamaua's annual compensation will increase by $50,000 on Feb. 1, 2025.
*Marcus Davis (WRs coach)
Term: Dec. 27, 2022-Jan. 31, 2026
Total annual compensation: $450,000
Note: Davis' annual compensation will increase by $50,000 on Feb. 1, 2025.
Kent Austin (QBs coach)
Term: Jan. 15, 2024-Jan. 31, 2027
Total annual compensation: $400,000
Note: Austin's annual compensation will increase by $200,000 on Feb. 1, 2025. It'll increase by $350,000 on Feb. 1, 2026.
Richard Silva is the Auburn athletics beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached via email at rsilva@gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @rich_silva18.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Auburn football assistant contracts: How much are the Tigers paying?
