Georgia coach Mark Richt joined college football's $4 million club Wednesday afternoon.
Richt received a raise and a contract extension from athletic director Greg McGarity following a conference call McGarity had with the executive committee of the athletic association's board of directors. Richt's contract was extended two years through the 2019 season, and he was given a salary of $4 million, or an $800,000 upgrade from the $3.2 million he was awarded in February 2013.
TRENDING UPWARD
Mark Richt's annual salary as Georgia's coach:SEASONS SALARY2001 $750,0002002 $800,0002003-05 $1.5 million2006-07 $2 million2008-12 $2.8 million2013-14 $3.2 million2015 $4 million
"We are very pleased with the direction of our program under Mark's leadership," McGarity said in a release. "Mark and his staff are making significant strides in all areas of our program, and we look forward to great things in the years to come."
Georgia recently gave defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt a raise from $850,000 to $1.3 million after one season and hired new offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer for $950,000. Schottenheimer's predecessor, Mike Bobo, made $578,700 last year.
In 14 seasons with the Bulldogs, Richt has amassed a 136-48 record with two Southeastern Conference championships and five SEC East titles. Georgia went 10-3 this past season, thumping Louisville in the Belk Bowl to finish with a No. 9 ranking, but the year did contain mixed reviews given the Bulldogs were favored in all 13 games.
Georgia's 10-win season was the ninth under Richt, who turns 55 next month.
The Bulldogs have not won an SEC championship since 2005. Since then, Alabama, Auburn, Florida and LSU each have won at least two league championships and at least one national title.
There were 11 college football coaches earning at least $4 million this past season, including four from the SEC -- Alabama's Nick Saban, Texas A&M's Kevin Sumlin, LSU's Les Miles and South Carolina's South Carolina. There have been three more coaches nationally to surpass that threshold in the last two months, with Florida State's Jimbo Fisher and Mississippi's Hugh Freeze receiving raises and with Michigan hiring Jim Harbaugh.
"I appreciate the confidence that Greg McGarity has in the direction of our football program and how we represent the University of Georgia," Richt said. "Our staff has an outstanding work ethic, and we are committed to the development of our student-athletes on and off the field."
Should Richt coach through 2019, he will have been at Georgia for 19 seasons. Vince Dooley, who hired Richt in December 2000, coached the Bulldogs for 25 seasons from 1964 through 1988, while Wally Butts guided them for 22 seasons from 1939 through 1960.
There was no information regarding buyout terms released Wednesday.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.