KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — With Tennessee coming off its greatest season in additional than 20 years, soccer coach Josh Heupel has been rewarded with a contract extension that can pay him $9 million per yr.

The elevate of $4 million will take Heupel to fifth amongst SEC head soccer coaches. The one 4 greater are Alabama’s Nick Saban, Georgia’s Kirby Sensible, Texas A&M’s Jimbo Fisher and LSU’s Brian Kelly. Heupel’s preliminary contract paid him $4 million yearly and he was bumped to $5 million final yr.

In accordance with particulars of Heupel’s new contract launched by the college, his buyout could be 100% of what he was owed if he had been terminated with out trigger earlier than Dec. 15, 2025. The buyout would drop to 75% if he had been fired between Dec. 15, 2025 and Dec. 14, 2027. The buyout would lower to 50 p.c on Dec. 15, 2027.

Heupel’s incentives package deal was additionally elevated. He would earn $100,000 for making a bowl sport and as much as $1 million for successful the nationwide championship. Different incentives embody $50,000 for ending within the High 25, $100,000 for ending within the high 10 and $150,000 for ending within the high 5 in addition to further cash for taking part in within the SEC championship sport, successful coach of the yr and his crew reaching sure educational progress charges. Heupel will even obtain elevated personal jet utilization.

If Heupel had been to depart Tennessee, he would owe the college $8 million earlier than Dec. 15. His buyout drops to $6 million till Dec. 15, 2024, and reduces by $1 million in every subsequent yr. Heupel would owe Tennessee $2 million if he leaves previous to Dec. 15, 2028.

“The outcomes over Josh’s first two years communicate for themselves,” Tennessee athletic director Danny White mentioned in a press release. “He and his employees have energized each our soccer program and our fan base with an aggressive model of soccer, a aggressive tradition that creates leaders and a relentless strategy to elevating the bar each single day. Regardless of a short interval of dormancy, Tennessee by no means surrendered its standing as a university soccer powerhouse. We simply wanted an revolutionary chief like Josh Heupel to reignite the spark.

“It has been enjoyable to crash the social gathering, however as Josh mentioned after our Orange Bowl triumph [over Clemson], the most effective is but to return.”

In two seasons at Tennessee, Heupel is 18-8. The Vols had been 11-2 this previous season and 7-6 in his first season. Earlier than his arrival, Tennessee had suffered by means of shedding seasons in three of the earlier 4 years. Tennessee’s No. 6 end within the closing AP ballot final season was its highest since 2001. That is after the Vols began the season unranked.

Much more importantly, Tennessee snapped a 15-game shedding streak in opposition to Alabama a yr in the past with an exciting 52-49 victory over the Crimson Tide that set off a wild celebration at Neyland Stadium. The Vols additionally beat Florida 38-33 at residence, solely their second victory over the Gators up to now 18 conferences. For perspective, coming into final season, Tennessee was 4-38 in opposition to its chief three rivals — Alabama, Florida and Georgia — going again to Phillip Fulmer’s closing season in 2008.

Heupel mentioned in a press release: “Our employees takes nice satisfaction in representing the Energy T, and it is one thing we by no means take without any consideration. We are going to proceed to work tirelessly to construct a championship program that every one of Vol Nation and all VFLs might be happy with. Most significantly, our gamers are the individuals who deserve all the credit score for our resurgence on Rocky High.”

The Vols broke 15 single-season data in 2022 and led the nation in scoring offense (46.1 factors), whole offense (525.5 yards), passing effectivity (181.4) and whole touchdowns (79) for the primary time in class historical past. They defeated six nationally ranked groups, tying the 1998 nationwide championship crew for probably the most in program historical past.

Tennessee’s No. 1 rating within the preliminary Faculty Soccer Playoff rankings final season was its first in class historical past. The Vols hosted ESPN’s “Faculty GameDay” twice final season and offered out six straight video games at residence. Their signing class for the 2023 season is ranked fifteenth nationally by ESPN, they usually additionally introduced in a number of extremely regarded transfers at key positions.