Kyle Whittingham's tenure at Utah is one of the most unusual in collegiate football. After holding various coaching positions at the program since 1994, he was promoted to head coach in 2005 and has kept the job ever since.
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Whittingham was rewarded once more with a contract extension in 2022 that included enhanced pay and benefits. In 2023, his new contract extension gives him a base yearly income of $4.7 million. The new package represents a $200,000 boost in his earnings over the previous year.
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However, there is more. The base compensation increases by $100,000 per year under the new deal. If a new extension is not negotiated before then, the current deal will expire in 2027. However, the coach who has been at the position for nearly two decades now, doesn’t seem to be any hurry to move to any other program.
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Kyle Whittingham's income is not solely derived from his position as a football coach with the Utah Utes. The university has a $1.5 million additional guarantee for the head coach thanks to its media and apparel partnerships with businesses like LEARFIELD and Under Armour.
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Whittingham is also eligible for performance bonuses, which can increase his salary in addition to his regular pay. He receives a $400,000 incentive if he is able to earn a spot at a College Football Playoff or New Year's Six games.
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He receives a $150,000 bonus if the program is included in the final AP or CFB Playoff Top 25. If Whittingham is named National Coach of the Year, he will also receive an additional $150,000. Whittingham has won the MWC Coach of the Year, Pac-12 Coach of the Year twice, and a Paul “Bear” Bryant Award.
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However, he is not only rewarded for his achievements on the field. Kyle Whittingham, 63, is also tasked with ensuring his athletes' academic achievement. And if the program receives an Academic Progress Rate of at least 950, he receives a $10,000 bonus. If the rating is raised to 980, the figure rises to $75,000 each year.
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The APR is not the only academic criterion, however, on which Whittingham's bonus will be based. He is eligible for a $75,000 bonus if the team achieves an 80% Graduation Success Rate. This ensures that the players excel both on-and-off the field, leading to overall development.
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For every season he continues to lead the football team at the institution, he receives a further $25,000 retention bonus. The deal also requires the university to upgrade its football facilities. Whittingham is given a one-time payment of $100,000 if the changes are not done within a certain amount of time.
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According to projections on collegefootballnetwork.com, Kyle Whittingham's net worth is close to $34 million. Given the lack of information about his investments outside of his football earnings, he might be worth more. The head coach spent the late '70s and early '80s playing linebacker for the BYU Cougars. Later, he spent time playing games for CFL and short-lived USFL teams.
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