New details: Drinkwitz’s recent contract extension comes with a raise
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Mizzou football's historic, 11-win 2023 season paid off for head coach Eli Drinkwitz.
On Dec. 31, just days after No. 9 MU's Cotton Bowl win over No. 7 Ohio State, the Mizzou Athletic Department extended Coach Eli's contract through 2028. Through details obtained by ABC 17 in an open records request, Drinkwitz is set to get paid $46 million in that new deal.
Before getting any bonuses in 2024 and 2025, he is automatically set to make $9 million. In 2026 and 2027, it will jump to $9.25 million. Finally, in the final year of the contract, 2028, he will be set to earn $9.5 million. All-in-all, it puts him in the top-five for highest paid coaches in the Southeastern Conference.
Drinkwitz's original contract, which expired in 2027, had him earning about $7 million at its peak, in the final contract year.
There are quite a few incentives included in Drinkwitz's contract, as well. You can find those in the list below.
- Conference coach of the year award - $50,000
- Appearance in first round of Collegee Football Playoff - $250,000
- Appearance in quarterfinals of College Football Playoff - $300,000
- Appearance in semifinals of College Football Playoff - $450,000
- Trip to the National Championship - $600,000
- National Championship win - $750,000
Some aspects of Coach Eli's contract did remain the same. Specifically, he will still be owed 75 percent of his salary if Mizzou doe choose to fire him without cause. On the flip side, the total buyout for his deal is $34.5 million.
This all comes after Drinkwitz and his team put up the best season he's had at the helm of Tiger football. MU finished as a Top-10 team in the country and toppled blue-blooded Ohio State in a New Year's Six bowl game.
