The hiring of Charlie Strong may be a tad more expensive than you might have originally thought, but Texas should be able to handle the bill regardless. As calculated by Dallas Morning News, Texas will spend close to $13 million on head coach-related expenses this year. That sum could increase to $14 million as well if Strong meets various incentives this fall.
How much it cost Texas to hire the search firm to hire Strong was reported yesterday. Texas spent a total of $266,990 on the search firm that helped lead the Longhorns to hiring the head coach from Louisville. But that was just the beginning of the total cost for making the coaching change. Before the search could begin though, Texas had to agree on a buyout price tag with the now former head coach, Mack Brown. Brown was being paid $5.4 million per year, and the university will owe him a reported $3.25 million. Strong will make $5 million this upcoming season.
Strong’s contract at Louisville also required a buyout, which Texas will pick up the tab. That will add another $4.375 million to the expense report. Between the costs for the search firm, Strong’s salary for the upcoming season and the combined buyouts to be paid for Brown and Strong’s Louisville contract, the Longhorns are up to a total of $12.892 million to be paid for head coach expenses in football.
Fortunately for the Longhorns, Texas can pretty much print their own money and the donors are plentiful. It may sound ludicrous to be committing so much money for one personnel change, but if it leads to Texas football making a return to the top of the Big 12 and emerging as a giant in the College Football Playoff era, it will all be worth it in the end in Austin.