Alabama new defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt watches from the sideline during practice for the NCAA college football Cotton Bowl, Monday, Dec. 21, 2015, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/ Butch Dill)Several Alabama assistant football coaches received raises Tuesday, though the total compensation for Nick Saban's 10th Crimson Tide staff is lower than last year.
The university's Board of Trustees Compensation Committee approved new contracts for every assistant with the exception of offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin. The former head coach of Tennessee and Southern California is scheduled to make $714,000 this year after making $680,000 the past two seasons as part of the three-year deal that was announced in June 2014.
Running backs coach Burton Burns and outside linebackers coach Tosh Lupoi received the biggest pay hikes Tuesday, with Burns going from $345,000 to $475,000 annually and Lupoi going from $425,000 to $550,000. Lupoi also received the title of co-defensive coordinator.
Alabama's new defensive coordinator, Jeremy Pruitt, will make $1 million each of the next three years and also will be paid $300,000 by Georgia, which let him go after this past season. Pruitt's predecessor in Tuscaloosa, new Georgia head coach Kirby Smart, made $1.5 million guiding the Crimson Tide defense last season.
Other new coaches resulted in the drop of total compensation, including recently hired defensive line coach Karl Dunbar, who will make $275,000. His predecessor, Bo Davis, made $475,000 last season but resigned in late April due to recruiting violations.
Another big jump in salary went to strength coach Scott Cochran, who will go from making $420,000 to $525,000. Cochran remained in Tuscaloosa during the offseason after having an opportunity to join Smart in Athens.
Former Alabama secondary coach Mel Tucker is now Smart's defensive coordinator. Tucker made $500,000 last season, while new secondary coach Derrick Ansley will receive $395,000.
Battle taking leave
Alabama athletic director Bill Battle is taking a leave of absence to receive further treatment for Stage 1 multiple myeloma, a form of cancer.
Battle, who was the head football coach at Tennessee from 1970 to 1976, will head to Emory University in Atlanta and undergo stem cell replacement therapy.
"I am looking forward to getting this behind me and continuing my active lifestyle, as well as continuing to lead our athletics department," Battle said in a university release. "My experience has made it clear to me that cancer can be a treatable disease that can be dealt with while maintaining a high quality of life."
Battle is scheduled to be at Emory for two weeks.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.