Steve Sarkisian's Three Top Assistants Get Extensions After He Gets Massive New Deal
Amid Nick Saban's retirement and the search for his replacement, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian inked a contract extension.
While Sarkisian seemed quite confident and transparent when it came to the fact that he had no intentions of leaving Austin, his 2023 season still had him poised for a big payday.
Texas won the Big 12 for the first time since 2009 when Colt McCoy was behind center, and they also appeared in their first College Football Playoff.
The details of Sarkisian's deal were revealed on Saturday, and it was also reported that three of his most trusted and important assistants got extensions too.
Special teams coach Jeff Banks
According to a report by Inside Texas, tight ends/special teams coach Jeff Banks, offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Kyle Flood, and Defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski were all extended. The report reveals that Banks was extended through 2026 and will see a bump in pay, getting $1.15 million in 2024, $1.2 million in 2025, and $1.25 million in 2026.
Flood, who was at one point a candidate for the Boston College head coaching opening was also extended through 2026. He will also see an uptick in pay, but only in 2026. The report revealed that Flood's 2024 salary of $1.325 million and his 2025 salary of $1.4 million will stay the same, but he will get paid $1.475 million in 2026.
Kwiatkowski was someone who certainly drew looks for some major defensive coordinator job openings this offseason, with USC being one that comes to mind.
He will be the highest-paid of the three, garnering $1.8 million for the 2024 season which was a bump up from $1.7. In 2025 he will be getting $1.9 million in 2025, and will see that number rise to $2 million in 2026.
On top of being great coaches for Texas, they also happen to be three of the best recruiters in the country. While the Longhorns did lose Jeff Choate to Nevada for a head coaching role and Bo Davis to LSU, they were able to keep their main core intact which is huge for a program looking to ascend to the top of the sport.
