KNOXVILLE -- Tennessee and Butch Jones have begun discussing a possible raise and contract extension for the Volunteers' football coach, athletic director Dave Hart said Tuesday.
Jones guided Tennessee to an 8-4 regular season, the program's best since 2007, and a second consecutive bowl game in 2015.
"Butch and I communicate, as we do with all of our coaches, on a very regular basis," Hart said during a press conference.
"We've already opened those conversations. And we'll continue to have those conversations."
Tenneessee head coach Butch Jones discusses a call with referee Matt Loeffler. The Vanderbilt Commodores visited the Tennessee Volunteers in SEC football action November 28, 2015.Tennessee gave Jones a $650,000 raise and two-year contract extension through the 2020 season last December, but at $3.6 million he was still one of four SEC coaches making less than $4 million this season.
It's likely Jones is bumped up near that figure, but the timetable on when the two sides can agree on the and possible extension isn't clear.
Jones is 20-17 overall and 10-14 in the SEC in three seasons at Tennessee, and the Vols, whose four losses this season came by a combined 17 points, could finish the season ranked in the top 25 if they win their ninth game in a bowl, the matchup and destination to be determined on Sunday.
After Jones was given his raise and extension, multiple other SEC coaches also received salary bumps and more years on their contracts. All seven coaches in the SEC West made at least $4 million. Jones, Florida's Jim McElwain and Kentucky's Bob Stoops were under that number.
"We're in a market-driven industry," Hart said. "Like it or not, fair or not, that's the reality. We are driven by the marketplace, and in this conference, certainly this conference has set the pace relative to what that marketplace looks like.
"Butch is well aware of where I stand and well aware of how appreciative I am that he's our football coach. And he knows -- we have ongoing conversations -- that we'll address that at the appropriate time and do what is right and fair as it relates to that."
University of Tennessee athletic director Dave Hart gestures as he speaks reporters about the firing of head basketball coach Donnie Tyndall on March 27, 2015, in Knoxville.Hart indicated the athletic department's reserve fund, though it remains the lowest in the conference, is up to $10 million, from less than $2 million just a couple of years ago.
The SEC Network payout has given Tennessee some breathing space, and the Vols may use to reward their head football coach and his coaching staff, which got a collective $250,000 raise as part of Jones's new deal last December.
Jones said he's very happy at Tennessee and excited about what the Vols are continuing to build.
"I've started it very clearly: Tennessee is the place I want to be," he said Tuesday. "My family loves it here.
"Our fan base has been extremely loyal. All you have to do is look at our fan attendance. I believe we averaged over 100,000 fans (at home games), first time since 2008. I think our attendance has been up over 11,000 each season.
"I'm a big believe in loyalty, and right now Tennessee is where I'm extremely happy. This is home to me and home to my family."
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.