Arkansas signs Odom, Briles, 4 other assistants through '24
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FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas has signed both of its coordinators and four other assistant coaches through the 2024 season, the UA announced Thursday.
Offensive coordinator Kendal Briles and defensive coordinator also received raises to remain with the Razorbacks, according to copies of their contracts obtained by HawgBeat via an open records request.
“I think it was very publicized that Kendal had the opportunity to leave and Barry does every single year,” head coach Sam Pittman said Thursday. “To maintain those guys I think is a big, big deal (and) that talks about they can’t leave something — whether it’s the state of Arkansas, the players, the camaraderie we have on our staff.
“But big-time loyalty. Because for the most part, they’re staying for less financial money, which a lot of people would not.”
After being pursued for the same position at Miami, Fla., Briles will make $1.2 million this year and receive a $50,000 bump each of the following seasons. That is a 20 percent raise of his previous salary of $1 million.
He’ll make $1.25 million in 2023 and $1.3 million in 2024.
Odom’s salary will increase from $1.75 million to $1.85 million — a 5.7 percent raise. He was previously under contract through the 2023 season.
Special teams coordinator Scott Fountain, running backs coach Jimmy Smith, wide receivers coach Kenny Guiton and linebackers coach Michael Scherer were extended through 2024 and received raises, as well.
Fountain, the third-highest paid assistant on staff, received a $65,000 raise and will now make $515,000. Smith was bumped up $60,000 to $360,000 and Guiton was bumped up $40,000 to $340,000.
The largest increase - percentage wise - was by Scherer, who was among the lowest paid assistants in the SEC in 2021. His salary was nearly doubled, as he'll make $325,000 after making just $175,000 last year.
Those raises will give Arkansas a record-high salary pool for its assistant coaches in 2022.
Tight ends coach Dowell Loggains had automatic raise to $400,000, which was in his contract before he was pursued by Kentucky for its offensive coordinator position, and offensive line coach Cody Kennedy received a previously unknown raise from $300,000 to $400,000 last summer that was reported by WholeHogSports in January.
With all of those increases, the Razorbacks will pay their assistants a combined $6.14 million this season. That's an increase of 15.3% from last year.
Prior to the hiring of Pittman, it is believed that the UA had never paid its assistant coaches more than $5 million.
| Coach | 2021 salary | 2022 salary |
|---|---|---|
|
DC Barry Odom |
$1.75 million |
$1.85 million |
|
OC Kendal Briles |
$1 million |
$1.2 million |
|
STC Scott Fountain |
$450,000 |
$515,000 |
|
DL Deke Adams |
$300,000* |
$400,000 |
|
OL Cody Kennedy |
$400,000 |
$400,000 |
|
TE Dowell Loggains |
$300,000 |
$400,000 |
|
RB Jimmy Smith |
$300,000 |
$360,000 |
|
DB Dominique Bowman |
$350,000* |
$350,000 |
|
WR Kenny Guiton |
$300,000 |
$340,000 |
|
LB Michael Scherer |
$175,000 |
$325,000 |