Richt’s salary raised to $2.8 million a year

University of Georgia football coach Mark Richt received a raise Thursday and is now making $2.8 million annually, which is over $2 million more than he made during his first season in 2001.

Richt’s raise was awarded by the executive committee of UGA’s athletic association board of directors. There were no changes made in contract length, so the 48-year-old still has six years remaining on an eight-year pact he agreed to following the 2005 Southeastern Conference championship season.

In seven seasons, Richt has amassed a 72-19 record and has yet to lose to state rival Georgia Tech.

“I’ve always been excited about being at Georgia,” Richt said Thursday night. “That’s never waned. I feel like I’ve been treated extremely well in a lot of areas, with one area being salary. The money really doesn’t drive me, but a strong contract is good stability for the program, and it’s good stability for our coaching staff and for our players, too.”

Georgia’s assistant coaches are receiving raises as well.

When Richt was hired to replace Jim Donnan in December 2000, he received a salary of $750,000. After coaching the Bulldogs to an 8-4 record in 2001, he had his pay bumped to $800,000 for the 2002 season.

In 2002, Richt led the Bulldogs to their first SEC title and Sugar Bowl appearance in 20 seasons and promptly received a new contract worth $1.5 million annually. He got his second SEC crown and Sugar Bowl trip in ’05, which resulted in an increase to $2 million annually.

The Bulldogs did not win the SEC last season but did win the Sugar Bowl and finished No. 2 nationally in the Associated Press poll. Georgia has 17 of 22 starters back from that team, including quarterback Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno, and could gain its first preseason No. 1 ranking in program history.

“Coach Richt has 72 wins in his seven seasons at Georgia and is currently the fourth winningest active coach in the country,” athletic director Damon Evans said. “He’s become not only one of the top coaches in college football but also an outstanding member of our university and Athens-area communities.”

Evans did not see the need to extend the length of Richt’s contract at this time.

“That, in no way, is sending a signal,” Evans said. “I think we’re sending a strong message in regard to the amount of money that we’re paying.”

Even with the $800,000 increase, Richt does not rank among the SEC’s three highest-paid coaches. Alabama’s Nick Saban ($4 million), LSU’s Les Miles ($3.5 million) and Florida’s Urban Meyer ($3.4 million) top the list entering the 2008 season, and all three have something that has eluded Richt — a national championship.

Richt is essentially in a three-way tie for fourth at $2.8 million with Auburn’s Tommy Tuberville and Arkansas’ Bobby Petrino. Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer made $2.05 million last season and has been promised a raise by athletic director Mike Hamilton after winning the SEC East last fall, but it likely won’t be as big as the one Richt received Thursday.

“This wasn’t about placing,” Evans said. “This was about what we felt was appropriate for us. We’ve got to do things within our institution that we think is fair. I personally feel good about where we are. I believe our football coach feels good about his salary and about where we are today.

“The University of Georgia is committed to football, and we always have been. Other institutions have to do what they have to do.”

When asked about Georgia basketball coach Dennis Felton, who has a losing record nearing the end of his fifth season, Evans said, “I’ll sit down with the head basketball coach at the end of the year and review everything in totality. Until such time, there is nothing more to be said.”