UT football assistants get raises, extensions

‘Coach Fulmer has done a tremendous job assembling one of the best staffs in the SEC and the country,’ Hamilton said in a statement. ‘I am proud of what these coaches have accomplished and confident they will continue to provide great leadership for our football program.’

Tennessee’s total payout to assistants and coordinators will jump 10 percent to $1.721 million.

The Vols went 9-4 last season, ending with a 20-10 loss to Penn State in the Outback Bowl. It was a big improvement over the 5-6 record in 2005, Fulmer’s worst in 15 seasons.

Fulmer received a two-year contract extension in March that will keep him at UT until 2013, but for the second consecutive year no raise in his $2.05 million salary package.

Offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe and defensive coordinator John Chavis, both assistant head coaches, received three-year extensions through June 30, 2010. The rest will get two-year extensions through June 30, 2009, Hamilton said.

Salary increases were ‘based on output and performance by the coaches’ and awarded by Fulmer, a UT statement said.

Cutcliffe and Chavis were both earning $300,000. Cutcliffe gets a $40,000 raise to $340,000 and Chavis receives a $25,000 boost to $325,000.

Under their new contracts, each will receive a $275,000 base salary for the next three years and escalating endorsement payouts from Adidas.

That will put Cutcliffe on track to make $350,000 in 2008-09 and $375,000 in 2009-10. Chavis would get $340,000 in 2008-09 and $350,000 in 2009-10.

As a percentage, Trooper Taylor’s 26 percent raise was tops on the Vols staff. The assistant head coach for player development and wide receivers will get a $36,790 raise to $175,000.

Taylor was courted for a head coaching job at Division I-AA Howard this past season. He also was the subject of a self-reported secondary NCAA rules violation for accepting a fee to talk to boosters at the Memphis home of Karl Schledwitz, a UT board of trustees member.

Other coaches:

‘ Offensive line coach Greg Adkins gets a $9,986 raise, or 7 percent, to $150,636.

‘ Defensive line coach Dan Brooks gets a $8,922 raise, or 6 percent, to $154,000.

‘ Defensive ends coach Steve Caldwell gets a $8,500 raise, or 6 percent, to $150,000.

‘ Tight ends coach Matt Luke gets a $2,500 raise, or 2 percent, to $130,000.

‘ Running backs coach Kurt Roper gets a $17,500 raise, or 13 percent, to $150,000.

‘ Defensive backs coach Larry Slade gets a $8,817 raise, or 6.4 percent, to $146,000.