Two coaches that took their team to the championship game in college football and basketball, were rewarded with new contracts that make them one the highest paid in their sport. Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney and Texas Tech men’s basketball coach Chris Beard inked new deals that will keep them at their respective universities for several years.
Swinney, who has led the Tigers to the College Football Playoff championship two of the last three years, signed a new deal worth $93 million over 10 years. Beard signed a six-year extension worth $27.45 million.
“I am grateful and humbled by the incredible commitment Clemson has made to me, my family and our football program,†Swinney said in a statement. “For more than a decade, we have given our all to provide this world-class university and our incredible fans the championship football program they deserve – to live up to Best is the Standard.â€
The 49-year-old Swinney now is the highest paid coach in college football. The previous mark was Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M, who signed a deal last year worth $75 million over seven years.
High Expectations at Clemson
Swinney has a 116–30 record in 11 seasons, and has won the ACC title the last four years. He has also reached the CFP every year but the first in 2014-15. Athletic director Dan Radakovich said Swinney’s performance merited the new deal.
“Dabo’s leadership of our football program has brought value, exposure and unprecedented levels of success not only to our athletics program but to the entire university,†Radakovich said. “He has demonstrated the ability to consistently achieve at the highest level on and off the field, and he has done so with a commitment to integrity and core principles. This new agreement is evidence of Clemson’s steadfast commitment to Dabo and to our football program, and we are thrilled that he and his family will be a part of our community for years to come.â€
Fresh off defeating rival Alabama in the championship game, the Tigers are the favorites to repeat in 2020. According to the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook, Clemson is 2/1 to repeat, while Alabama is at 5/2.
Beard Joins Exclusive Ranks
Beard’s body of work is nowhere close to Swinney’s, but he parlayed an incredible run in the NCAA Tournament to a deal that will make him the fifth highest-paid college basketball coach.
The Red Raiders were a 50/1 longshot to win the tournament, and improved to 25/1 just before March Madness began. The No. 3 seed defeated Michigan, No. 1 Gonzaga, and Michigan State, before falling to Virginia in the title game in overtime.
It was the first time in the history of the program that Texas Tech had made the Final Four, and it guaranteed Beard would be rewarded. Now only Duke’s Mike  Krzyzewski, Kentucky’s John Calipari, Ohio State’s Chris Holtmann, and Kansas’s Bill Self make more money.
Athletic director Kirby Hocutt told reporters that he wants an elite program, and believes Beard is the one to deliver it.
“It sends a very big message what our expectations are as an athletics program,†Hocutt said.