After a second consecutive, albeit unsuccessful, trip to Atlanta for the SEC Championship game Jim McElwain decided it was time to shake up the Florida Gators coaching staff.
The Gators added three new coaches to its staff this offseason and Randy Shannon was promoted to defensive coordinator after Geoff Collins’ departure to take the head-coaching gig at Temple. Ja’Juan Seider made the jump from running back’s coach at West Virginia to the same job at Florida. Corey Bell is coaching defensive backs, the same position he coached at his last stop at USF and Brad Davis, formerly of North Texas, will coach the offensive line.
Shannon’s promotion began before the Gators’ bowl game last year but wasn’t made official until after Florida’s Outback Bowl win. Shannon’s new contract will pay him a base salary of $890,000 over three years (2017-2020). This is a $400,000 bump from the $490,000 he made last year. He also has retention bonuses of $75,000, $100,000 and $125,000 that would be paid out if he is still on the coaching staff each March for the duration of his three-year contract.
Seider signed a two-year contract (2017-19). He is slated to earn a base salary of $335,000 in the first year and $345,000 in year two.
Bell and Davis also signed two-year contracts. Both assistants will make a base salary of $290,000 in the first year with a bump to $315,000 in year two.
All four coaches will also receive a $10,000 payment from Nike as an equipment supplement and access to a dealer car, in accordance with the Dealer Car Agreement and Association’s Dealer Car Policy.
Shannon’s $890,000 contract is equal to that of the contract Collins’ served under in 2016. Additionally, Shannon was due a $125,000 retention bonus in February from his last contract, bringing his 2017 compensation to over a million ($1,015,000).
Universal contract notes and bonuses:
All coaches receive a $10,000 bonus from Florida’s contract with Nike
All coaches receive use of a car and other tangible incentives
National Championship Game victory – 30 percent increase
National Championship Game appearance – 25 percent increase
Other championship-level bowl game appearance – 20 percent increase
SEC Championship Game appearance – 10 percent increase
Non-BCS bowl game – 10 percent increase
Bowl game with less than $2 million payout – one month’s salary increase
If team graduates at 85 percent – $4,000 for head coach, $1,500 for assistants