Mark Richt Gets Contract Extension, Raise

Following a brief executive session this afternoon the Athletic Association Board rewarded Mark Richt for his team's just-completed top 10 season with a raise and contract extension.

The top Dawg's new contract extends his prior deal for two more years (through 2019), and his salary is increased to $4 million effective this season. That's an increase over Richt's previous salary of $3.2 million under his prior contract (signed prior to the 2012 season). The new deal also continues a mildly surprising trend of increasing football compensation and expenditures which many fans have found pretty refreshing.

The deal makes Richt the fifth highest paid coach in the SEC, behind the likes of Nick Saban, Kevin Sumlin, Les Miles, and Hugh Freeze. Saban and Miles obviously have national title appearances and wins which have so far eluded Richt. The Freeze and Sumlin deals represent recent gambles on guys who still have a lot to prove at their respective schools. Which is to say, this deal seems about right to me, not over-reaching, but fairly recognizing Richt's consistency in placing his team in the top third/quartile of the conference. The term runs through Coach Richt's nineteenth season in the Classic City, which justs makes me feel terribly old. But that's not really his fault. Until later...

Go 'Dawgs!!!