KNOXVILLE -- Butch Jones is now a member of the Southeastern Conference's $4 million club.
Tennessee announced on Monday its third-year football coach is receiving a $500,000 raise to his salary for the duration of his contract, which runs through the 2020 season.
Jones did not receive an extension to his contract after having two years added after last season.
The raise pushes Jones's annual salary to $4.1 million. He was one of only three SEC coaches making less than $4 million in 2015 even after receiving a $650,000 raise last December.
"Obviously I'm very thankful we've had a supportive administration led by (athletic director) Dave Hart and Chancellor (Jimmy) Cheek," Jones said Monday afternoon after Tennessee's practice. "We all win with this. I think it's an illustration of the support that they have given us ever since we came here.
"It's gratifying in terms of they see what we're building. They see what goes on here, but it's really all about the players, it's about the coaching staff and it's about everyone in our football organization. Really it's a tribute to them and everyone associated with our football program."
The amendment, which was signed last Thursday, to Jones's contract released by Tennessee on Monday includes a couple of changes to the buyouts and bowl bonuses.
Tennessee now would owe Jones $2.5 million for every year left on his deal for terminating him without cause. Previously the Vols would have owed him $2 million per year as his buyout.
Jones, who is 20-17 overall in three seasons at Tennessee, would owe the Volunteers $4 million if he leaves before Feb. 28, 2017 and $3 million if he leaves between that date and Feb. 28, 2018.
Jones's buyout is $2 million if he leaves before Feb. 29, 2020 and $1 million if he departs before the expiration of his contract.
"It's more evidence of what we're building here and the stability that this program now has," Jones said, "and it helps in recruiting."
Though Jones received a $200,000 bonus for the Vols playing in the Outback Bowl this season, his adjusted contract lowers that bonus to $100,000 for that particular game, which is part of the "Group of Six" in the SEC's new bowl system.
After going 8-4 this season, Tennessee will play in the Outback Bowl against Northwestern on New Year's Day and could finish the season ranked with a victory.
The Vols resumed practice on Monday afternoon.
"Butch Jones has done an outstanding job leading this football program on and off the field," Hart said in a statement. "As I said recently, Butch has brought stability to our program.When we hired Butch (three) years ago, he laid out a vision of how he wanted to build this program back to where we all want it to be.
"We have made great strides, however, it remains an ongoing process. Most importantly, we have the right leader to get us to our ultimate destination and we are rewarding him accordingly."
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.