Auburn Football made headlines on Friday by releasing the details of Hugh Freeze’s 6-year coaching deal. Freeze, who took the head coaching role at Auburn five months ago, will make $6.5 million in his first year, which puts him in the middle of the pack among current SEC coaches. However, his salary will rise by $250,000 each year, making him one of the highest-paid coaches in the SEC by 2028.
According to reports, Freeze stands to gain further incentives from Auburn’s performance. He will earn $150,000 when Auburn reaches five SEC wins, and $150,000 for every win thereafter. Other incentives include $25,000 for a team APR between 930 and 949 and a whopping $2 million for winning a national championship.
The news of Freeze’s coaching deal comes just months after Auburn paid a $21.45 million buyout to Gus Malzahn and a $15.8 million payout to Bryan Harsin. The school has agreed to the same buyout structure as its two former coaches, meaning that Freeze will be owed 75 percent of his remaining contract with no offset if fired without cause.
Freeze’s contract is set to benefit from the SEC’s upcoming move from eight conference games to nine, which could give Auburn more opportunities to earn wins and bolster their football program. Auburn fans are eagerly anticipating the football season to see how Freeze and his coaching team fare against the SEC’s toughest opponents.
Overall, Freeze’s deal is a significant investment by Auburn Football, and it remains to be seen how it will pay off. However, if all goes well, Auburn could be in for an exciting and successful era of football under Freeze’s leadership.