Oregon State rewards Smith with $30.6M contract

Oregon State coach Jonathan Smith has agreed to a brand new six-year contract, the college introduced Sunday.

Smith’s deal comes after main the Beavers to a 9-3 document and can embrace assured compensation of $4.85 million yearly, starting March 1. It can enhance by $100,000 every year, finally touchdown at $30.6 million for the lifetime of the contract.

“Coach Smith has taken the Oregon State soccer program to new heights, and we knew it was vital to reward him and his employees to maintain the momentum shifting ahead,” Beavers athletic director Scott Barnes mentioned in an announcement. “The success they’ve achieved on the soccer discipline has been evident, and Coach’s Smith management and the work of his employees additionally has modified the tradition of this system within the classroom, the burden room and the group.”

Oregon State, which can tackle Florida (6-6) on Saturday within the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl, is Smith’s first head-coaching place after a fast climb via the ranks as an offensive assistant elsewhere.

Smith, 43, who performed quarterback at Oregon State from 1998 to 2001, coached quarterbacks at Idaho earlier than graduating to offensive coordinator at Montana. He settled again right into a quarterbacks coach position at Boise State earlier than touchdown the offensive coordinator place at Washington. He was employed to run the Beavers’ program in 2018.

Apart from the COVID-19-shortened season of 2020, Smith’s groups confirmed progress in victories from one 12 months to the following. In 2018, the Beavers stumbled to a 2-10 end earlier than a 5-7 2019 marketing campaign gave strategy to the shortened 2-5 season. Final 12 months, the Beavers completed 7-6 and misplaced their bowl recreation. This season, they reached 9 wins with an emotional victory within the regular-season finale towards rival Oregon.

“This system is in a approach higher place, so it’s actually significant,” Smith mentioned upfront of this season’s senior day. “I can not record all of them proper now, however I simply take into consideration a few of these guys which have accomplished some actually particular issues and labored at it.”

As a participant, Smith was beneath heart for one of many extra memorable offenses in 2000. A junior on the time, Smith led the Beavers to an 11-1 document and a No. 4 end within the closing Related Press Prime 25 ballot. The high-flying offense additionally featured huge receivers Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who each graduated to the NFL. That workforce ended its run with a 41-9 victory over Notre Dame within the Fiesta Bowl. Smith was named the sport’s MVP.

“I wish to thank Scott Barnes and the Oregon State administration for persevering with to help this soccer program and everybody who works tirelessly for our student-athletes and all of Beaver Nation,” Smith mentioned in an announcement Sunday. “We’re happy with what has been completed, however the work just isn’t accomplished and we’ll proceed to place within the effort and do it the suitable approach.”