Inside the Contracts of College Football’s Newest Coaches: Strange Perks, Creative Clauses, and Wild Incentives Define the New Era
In the ever-evolving world of college football, the game isn’t just changing on the field — it’s shifting dramatically behind closed doors, too. Coaching contracts, once straightforward documents outlining base salaries and basic performance incentives, have become elaborate blueprints of financial creativity, personal comfort, and competitive strategy.
As athletic departments compete to land (and keep) top coaching talent in an era defined by NIL chaos, realignment uncertainty, and playoff expansion, the newest wave of head coaching contracts reads more like celebrity endorsement deals than traditional employment agreements.
And the quirks are nothing short of jaw-dropping.
Whether it’s million-dollar bonuses for beating rivals, luxury vehicle leases, private jet usage, country club memberships, or even bizarre personal perks like premium espresso machines or access to private chefs, the fine print reveals just how far schools are willing to go to keep their coaches happy — and locked in.
Let’s take a closer look inside some of the most unusual, extravagant, and downright fascinating clauses tucked into the contracts of college football’s newest head coaches.
Private jet access has gone from luxury to standard fare in modern contracts — especially for Power Five coaches. But the degree of access has reached new levels.
When Kalen DeBoer inked his deal to take over at Alabama, one of the many perks included family travel privileges. Not just for bowl games or recruiting trips — but unlimited personal travel for his spouse and children, on the university’s dime. DeBoer isn’t alone.
Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham, hired as one of the youngest head coaches in FBS history, secured 60 hours of private jet time annually for personal use. That includes flying family to home games — all billed to the athletic department, not the coach’s taxable income.
And in the case of Wisconsin’s Luke Fickell, there’s a unique twist: his contract allows him to use a university-affiliated aircraft even during the offseason, as long as the trip is “family wellness-related.” That vague phrasing reportedly covers everything from vacations to therapy retreats.
Winning games is the goal — but beating specific teams can get coaches paid.
In Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman’s latest extension (after a brief downturn in 2023), a unique clause was inserted guaranteeing him a $250,000 bonus for beating Texas or Texas A&M — regardless of the Razorbacks’ final record.
Likewise, Colorado coach Deion Sanders has a performance-based clause tied directly to beating in-state rival Colorado State. While the bonus is relatively modest at $50,000, the real kicker is a branding clause: if Colorado beats Colorado State, Sanders earns a marketing bonus and a 5% boost to his personal NIL brand agreements facilitated through the school’s collective.
Michigan State’s new coach, Jonathan Smith, has a clause tied to winning “two of three” against Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State within any given season — triggering a $500,000 automatic bonus and potential extension trigger.
It’s not unusual for universities to assist with relocation and housing when hiring a coach. What is unusual is when that housing includes mansion upgrades and mortgage protection.
Take Florida’s Billy Napier, for example. While not brand new anymore, his contract came to light again when the university paid nearly $1 million to purchase his home outright — guaranteeing he wouldn’t lose on resale if terminated early.
Now, newer hires are following suit.
Texas A&M’s new head coach Mike Elko signed a clause allowing him to live in a school-owned property — a 9,000-square-foot estate with private security, chef’s kitchen, and full-time groundskeeping. On top of that, Elko receives an annual “home maintenance stipend” of $50,000, designed to “enhance personal comfort and event-hosting capacity.”
Meanwhile, Jeff Lebby at Mississippi State negotiated a clause that allows him to select the contractor and materials for any home built using relocation stipends — and all property improvements are transferrable to him, should he move and sell.
Perks aren’t just about cash — they’re about lifestyle.
Coaches across the country are negotiating access to exclusive social circles as part of their contracts. This includes full memberships to country clubs, priority access to elite golf courses, and even event-hosting budgets.
At Kentucky, new offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan reportedly has a clause in his deal allowing him $15,000 annually to spend on country club-related events — including personal tournaments, donor engagements, or private dining.
Oregon’s Dan Lanning has access to multiple club memberships throughout the Pacific Northwest and a personal “golf concierge” service during the offseason. He’s also allowed to use team planes to fly to courses for charity tournaments — with no deduction from personal hours.
Vehicle perks have always been part of coaching packages, but they’ve been taken to new extremes lately.
USC head coach Lincoln Riley reportedly receives not one but two luxury vehicles — a Range Rover and a Mercedes-Benz — with full insurance, maintenance, and fuel covered by the school. He also has access to a 24/7 private driver when requested for city events.
In an unusual twist, Houston head coach Willie Fritz’s contract allows him to drive any vehicle from a school-sponsored dealership but specifies that the dealership must provide a “rotating selection of 3 or more” cars, allowing him to change cars every 90 days.
Even coordinators are getting in on the action. Georgia defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann reportedly has a leased BMW M5 covered entirely by a school-affiliated booster partnership.
Several new contracts now include clauses specifically aimed at personal wellness, mental health, and development.
Kansas’ Lance Leipold has a clause that reimburses him up to $25,000 per year for “executive coaching, leadership seminars, or mindfulness training.” It also includes reimbursement for “spiritual retreats or guided wellness travel.”
At Oregon State, Trent Bray negotiated for an annual “performance optimization budget” that includes access to private trainers, nutritionists, and even sleep coaches — all provided through a university wellness consultant team.
And in one of the most unique clauses, NC State’s Dave Doeren (while not newly hired, just renegotiated) included a provision allowing him up to four weeks of “uninterrupted sabbatical leave” after each three-year period — a first-of-its-kind reset clause in the sport.
Perhaps the most complex parts of coaching contracts are the buyouts — and schools are getting creative to ensure long-term commitment.
Several new deals include escalating buyouts that shrink only if a coach completes specific retention triggers. For example, Michigan State’s Smith earns a $1 million retention bonus every 18 months — but if he leaves within 30 months, he owes double that back.
Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama deal includes a retention bonus tied to playoff appearances — meaning if he takes the Tide to the College Football Playoff in any of his first three years, his buyout is automatically restructured upward and his annual salary increases.
Other coaches, like Arizona’s Brent Brennan, have clauses that allow early departure with no penalty — but only if the new job is “within the University of California or California State system.” It’s a subtle nod to personal preference and geographical roots.
Coaches are also cashing in on personal branding like never before.
Several new contracts allow coaches to participate in personal branding partnerships — from clothing lines to YouTube channels — as long as they don’t conflict with school sponsors.
Prime among them is Deion Sanders, who has built a personal brand around “Coach Prime.” His Colorado contract specifically permits independent merchandise sales using that brand, and even includes a percentage cut of “Coach Prime” apparel sold through the university.
Other deals include wardrobe budgets that go well beyond the usual team-issued gear. Washington’s Jedd Fisch has a $20,000 annual clothing allowance, and Nebraska’s Matt Rhule negotiated a performance-based bonus that includes a bonus trip to Italy for custom suit tailoring — contingent on winning the Big Ten West.
These contracts reveal the wild new world of college football, where coaches are CEOs, influencers, and brand managers all rolled into one. It’s no longer just about winning games — it’s about managing optics, creating comfort, and ensuring a coach can fully embed himself into the culture and vision of the program.
In a sport where success is fleeting and pressure is permanent, these off-the-wall perks and clever clauses serve one goal: stability. Athletic directors will continue to get creative, coaches will continue to push boundaries, and fans — whether they agree or not — will keep watching it all unfold.
Because in today’s college football, what’s in the contract might matter just as much as what’s in the playbook.
