Hugh Freeze's Auburn Contract: $65 Million Salary Per Year
Six-Year Deal Makes Freeze One of College Football's Highest-Paid Coaches
Auburn football head coach Hugh Freeze will earn a base salary of $65 million over the course of his six-year contract, making him one of the highest-paid coaches in college football, according to an Auburn athletics official.
Contract Details
The contract is worth an average of $65 million per season, according to a report from ESPN. The terms were also confirmed by Pete Thamel, ESPN's college football insider. The yearly salary would rank Freeze as the SEC's second-highest paid coach behind Alabama's Nick Saban ($10.7 million).
Freeze's deal is a significant increase from his previous contract at Liberty University, where he made an average salary of just under $5 million annually.
A Gamble for Auburn
Auburn's decision to hire Freeze has been met with mixed reactions. Freeze was fired from Ole Miss in 2016 due to off-the-field issues. However, he has a strong track record as a coach, leading Liberty to unprecedented success in recent years.
While some Auburn fans are excited about the potential of Freeze, others are concerned about his past. It remains to be seen whether Freeze can overcome his previous transgressions and lead Auburn to success on and off the field.
Contract Comparison
Freeze's contract is comparable to that of other top college football coaches. In 2023, the highest-paid coaches in the country are:
- Jimbo Fisher (Texas A&M): $9.5 million per year
- Nick Saban (Alabama): $10.7 million per year
- Brian Kelly (LSU): $9.5 million per year
- Hugh Freeze (Auburn): $65 million per year
- Mel Tucker (Michigan State): $9.5 million per year
Freeze's contract is also in line with the salaries of other high-profile Auburn coaches. Former head coach Bryan Harsin was paid $5.25 million per year, and former basketball coach Bruce Pearl makes $5.3 million annually.
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