KNOXVILLE – New Tennessee coach Derek Dooley will earn $1.8 million in his first season of a six-year contract announced by the school on Tuesday.
Under agreements between Tennessee and its new coaches, Dooley’s nine assistants will make a combined $2.7 million.
“In a few short weeks working with coach Dooley, it is evident he is going to do a tremendous job as coach at the University of Tennessee,” athletic director Mike Hamilton said in a statement. “A great deal of the anticipated success is due to the first-class staff he has assembled to assist him.”
Defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox’s $600,000 salary is the largest among the assistants. Offensive coordinator Jim Cheney will earn $425,000.
Dooley was hired Jan. 15 to replace Lane Kiffin. He will make $200,000 less than Kiffin made in his only season at Tennessee. Kiffin left Jan. 12 to coach Southern California.