Texas
UT-Austin football coach Steve Sarkisian to make more than $10 million a year after pay bump
:focal(0x0:2880x1920)/static.texastribune.org/media/files/ba356ba49665f0de704e86c2c87c299e/Steve%20Sarkisian%20REUTERS%20TT%2001.jpg "UT-Austin football coach Steve Sarkisian to make more than million a year after pay bump")
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Steve Sarkisian, the head football coach at the University of Texas at Austin, is expected to earn a guaranteed salary of $10.3 million this year, a substantial pay raise that would put him among the highest-paid division 1 football coaches nationwide.
The University of Texas System Board of Regents is set to review and approve the pay increase during a meeting scheduled for Feb. 21, according to a meeting agenda released Saturday. The terms of employment have already been approved by the school’s leadership and general counsel.
Under the new contract, Sarkisian would receive a pay bump of $100,000 each year until the termination of the agreement at the end of 2030, when he would earn a guaranteed $10.9 million. That represents a 78% overall increase in Sarkisian’s guaranteed salary. He will earn at least $74.2 million over the duration of the contract.
Sarkisian became head coach in 2021 after UT-Austin abruptly fired former coach Tom Herman. His initial contract was for six years and included a $5.2 million salary in his first year and a guaranteed raise of $200,000 annually.
The terms of the new agreement also would increase Sarkisian’s performance incentives by 124%. For example, if the team wins the conference championship, Sarkisian would earn an additional $300,000.
UT-Austin announced last month that Sarkisian agreed to a four-year extension through 2030. The announcement came on the heels of a successful season for the Longhorns, who won a Big 12 title in their last season in the league and appeared in the College Football Playoff. The team finished 12-2 after losing a national semifinal and ranked number three overall. Sarkisian was also named Big 12 Coach of the Year. He has a 25-14 record over three seasons at UT-Austin.
“We’re thrilled with what we’ve been able to accomplish and proud of the culture we’ve built and the way our players have grown — on and off the field,” Sarkisian said in a Jan. 13 statement. “But we’re just getting started. I’ve said it all along, we’ve been building this program for long term success. We’re here to chase greatness, win championships, and be one of the best in the nation year in and year out.”
Football coaches are often among the highest-paid public employees in the state. Texas A&M’s head football coach Mike Elko earns an annual base salary of $7 million. Elko was hired last year after the school spent over $75 million to buy out former head coach Jimbo Fisher’s contract. Fisher had earned an annual salary of $9 million.
Sarkisian was previously Alabama’s offensive coordinator. Before that, he was head coach for the University of Washington and the University of Southern California.
Disclosure: University of Texas at Austin and University of Texas System have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
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The No. 10 Texas A&M Aggies play against the No. 17 Oklahoma Sooners in an SEC basketball game tonight. The matchup will begin at 8 p.m. CT on SEC Network. Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV Stream and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.
The Aggies enter this matchup with a 12-2 record, and they have won eight consecutive games. In their most recent game, the Aggies defeated Texas 80-60.
During the victory, Zhuric Phelps led the Texas A&M offense. He ended the game with 18 points and shot 6-8 from the field, so he will try to perform similarly tonight. Phelps is the second-leading scorer for Texas A&M this season.
The Sooners enter this matchup with a 13-1 record, but they are coming off a 107-79 loss against Alabama. During the loss, Oklahoma only received five points from their bench players. Glenn Taylor Jr. and Brycen Goodine only scored three total points off the bench, so they will look to improve their play tonight.
Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV Stream and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.
AUSTIN – Texas Governor Greg Abbott will be briefed Wednesday morning on the latest in the severe winter weather that will affect a large area of the state. He will then hold a news conference in Austin around 10:30 a.m. to announce any updates.
The Governor will be joined by Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd, Texas Department of Transportation Deputy Executive Director Brian Barth, Electric Reliability Council of Texas CEO Pablo Vegas, Public Utility Commission Chair Thomas Gleeson, and other state officials and emergency management personnel.
Get news, weather and so much more on the new FOX LOCAL app
Winter Storm Warning
What we know:
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for parts of North Central and Northeast Texas from 6 a.m. Thursday until Noon on Friday.
The National Weather Service expects heavy mixed precipitation with a transition to all snow on Thursday evening. Total snow accumulations will be between 2 and 4 inches. The NWS says isolated snowfall amounts could top 8 inches within more intense bands of snow.
Another aspect of a warning is what this weather will impact. Travel could be very difficult for the Thursday morning and evening commutes.
RELATED STORY: Dallas weather: Winter storm watch upgraded to warning, when to expect snow tomorrow
State Emergency Response Resources
Governor Greg Abbott on Tuesday directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to increase the readiness level of the Texas State Operations Center (SOC) to Level II (Escalated Response) ahead of winter weather expected to impact the state, with the greatest impacts beginning Wednesday through the weekend.
What they’re saying:
“With below-freezing temperatures beginning to impact large portions of the state, Texas is increasing the readiness level of the State Operations Center to ensure resources are swiftly deployed to communities,” said Governor Abbott. “As the State of Texas mobilizes the emergency response resources Texans need to stay safe and warm, I urge everyone to remain weather-aware, regularly monitor road conditions before traveling, and heed guidance from state and local officials. I thank all the first responders and emergency management personnel for their efforts to help Texas communities brace for winter weather.”
Winter Storm Watch
The National Weather Service has also issued a Winter Storm Watch which remains in effect from now through Friday night.
What they’re saying:
Heavy mixed precipitation is possible with a transition to snow expected late Thursday. Total snow and sleet accumulations of up to two inches and ice accumulations of around one tenth of an inch are possible.
Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous. Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous conditions could impact the Thursday morning and evening commutes.
Dig deeper:
Texans can locate winter weather safety tips by visiting TexasReady.gov, find warming centers opened and operated by local officials at tdem.texas.gov/warm, and check road conditions at DriveTexas.org.
The Source: Information in this article is from the Texas Governor’s Office and the National Weather Service.
Texas A&M football: How Reed Arena got its name
Reed Arena has been around since 1998. Here is a history of Texas A&M’s arena that sits nearly 13,000 people.
For the first time since December of 2017, Texas A&M basketball is ranked inside the top 10 in national polls.
The Aggies manhandled the rival Texas Longhorns on Saturday and surged up the rankings. They sit ninth in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll and 10th in the AP Poll, released Sunday.
Despite national recognition, the Aggies know they have a lot of work to do if they’re going to stay there, and the next challenge will be daunting. Wednesday night, the Aggies travel to Norman to take on the No. 16 Oklahoma Sooners (13-1, 0-1) in their first SEC road test of the year.
WATCH MULTIPLE TEXAS A&M GAMES HERE
No. 9 Texas A&M (12-2, 1-0) won eight games in a row and will put the streak to the test against a good Sooners team looking to bounce back from a 107-79 loss to the No. 5 Alabama Crimson Tide.
Now, the Aggies are fully entrenched in a grueling conference schedule. Can Texas A&M continue their winning ways Wednesday on the road against Oklahoma? Here’s what you need to know for the matchup:
Texas A&M vs Oklahoma time
Day: Wednesday
Start time: 8 p.m.
Location: Lloyd Noble Center in Norman.
How to watch Texas A&M vs Oklahoma
TV channel: SEC Network
Livestream: Fubo, ESPN+, SEC+
Aggies capitalizing on ‘mature group’
Texas A&M entered the season returning 78% of last year’s total production. That familiarity in Buzz Williams’ sixth season has allowed the Aggies to flourish early this year. With experience a clear advantage for A&M, the team’s maturity has allowed them to get off to the start they’ve had.
“We have a very mature group. We have a group that has really good character, and that’s important. When we’re together, our ideas have to be based on the truth,” Williams said on his weekly radio show Monday.
A&M’s starting five against Texas (Wade Taylor, Zhuric Phelps, Hayden Hefner, Solomon Thomas, Henry Coleman III) have combined to play 460 games for the program, and that familiarity has helped the Aggies play well together when it matters most.
“The margins are just so thin. You always have to figure out a way to get better,” Williams said Monday. “We’re thankful for Saturday. There’s very little margin over the next nine weeks.”
Texas A&M vs. Oklahoma prediction
Twenty-point wins will be hard to come by in the SEC this season, and the Aggies know it. Wednesday against the Sooners will provide A&M with another measuring stick game, a test they’ve continued to pass. I expect it will be much closer than the Longhorns game was, with Texas A&M finding a way to grind out a one-possession road win over Oklahoma, 77-74.
Reach Texas A&M Beat Reporter Tony Catalina via email at ACatalina@gannett.com. Follow the American-Statesman on Facebook and X for more. Your subscription makes work like this possible. Get access to all of our best content with this tremendous offer.
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