USC’s Johnson In LIne For A Big Raise
January 26th, 2010 03:10 PM║ Posted By: John Pennington ║ Permalink ║ Tags: South Carolina
The bar for defensive coordinators’ salaries just keeps rising and rising in the SEC. And that appears to be good news for South Carolina’s Ellis Johnson.
Johnson and Gamecock officials have discussed a contract extension for the Palmetto State native that would double his current salary. The proposed deal would pay Johnson an average of $700,000 per year over four seasons.
The contract has to be approved by the board of trustees executive committee next month.
Georgia’s Todd Grantham just received a $750,000 deal to join the Bulldogs. Tennessee reportedly offered $750,000 to Kevin Steele, but he chose to remain at Clemson (after a bump moved him to $575,000 a year).
John Chavis is getting raise at LSU that will push him over the $500,000 mark and Kirby Smart at Alabama is in large for nice jump in pay, too.
Johnson — whose actual title is assistant head coach for defense — has been mentioned in connection with the Georgia and Tennessee jobs as well as the head coaching position at Louisiana Tech.
The big upshot of this story? I get to use my favorite “Slingblade-esque” photo of Johnson. $750,000 can buy a man a lot of french fried potaters.
