Contract details revealed: UCLA got a bargain with Bob Chesney

Bob Chesney could be quite the bargain for a floundering football program.

The new UCLA coach’s five-year, $33.75-million contract that will pay him an average salary of $6.75 million doesn’t rank among the top 35 college football coaching salaries in terms of annual value, according to the most recent USA Today database.

Chesney’s deal would have put him directly behind Arkansas coach Sam Pittman’s $6.81-million salary for 2025, which ranked No. 35, and ahead of Auburn coach Hugh Freeze’s $6.73-million salary that ranked No. 36.

Bob Chesney could be quite the bargain for the floundering UCLA football program.

Chesney’s contract, which was obtained by the California Post, includes modest increases each year. It will pay him $5.4 million in Year 1, $5.5 million in Year 2, $5.6 million in Year 3, $5.7 million in Year 4 and $5.8 million in Year 5.

Chesney also received a hiring bonus of $3.7 million, with $2.65 million of that amount scheduled to be paid on or before Feb. 2 and the balance paid on or before March 2.

Chesney’s buyout clause calls for him to be paid 75% of his base salary and talent fee for the remainder of his contract should he be terminated without cause. A mitigation clause would require Chesney to seek employment that would offset any buyout amount owed.

If Chesney departed for another job on or before Dec. 21, 2026, he would have to pay $8 million to UCLA. That amount drops to $5 million if he were to leave on or before Dec. 31, 2027, $3.5 million on or before Dec. 31, 2028, $2 million on or before Dec. 31, 2029, and $1 million on or before Dec. 31, 2030.

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Chesney will receive a retention bonus of $550,000 if he stays on the job through Feb. 15, 2027, and the same amount on the same date every subsequent year through the balance of the contract. He can also make up to $100,000 per year for holding football camps or clinics. His family will receive a suite to all home football games, and Chesney is entitled to complimentary tickets to other UCLA athletic events.

Chesney’s performance bonuses include $50,000 for winning six games in a season, $100,000 for winning seven games, $150,000 for winning eight games, $300,000 for winning nine games and $350,000 for winning 10 games.

Should the Bruins make an appearance in the Big Ten championship game, Chesney would earn an additional $200,000 bonus. Should they win the conference title, he would get another $200,000. A non-playoff bowl game appearance would be worth $100,000 for Chesney and a victory in that game would earn him another $100,000.

The new UCLA coach’s 5-year, $33.75-million contract doesn’t rank among the top 35 college coaching salaries. Jan Kim Lim

If UCLA made its first appearance in the College Football Playoff, Chesney would earn $300,000, with an additional $150,000 for each CFP victory and another $200,000 for a national championship.

Should the Bruins finish in the top 10 of the Associated Press rankings, Chesney would get $50,000. A top-five finish would net him $100,000.

If Chesney won the Big Ten coach of the year award as voted by the conference, AP or American Football Coaches Association, he would receive a $50,000 bonus. If he won the national coach of the year award, he would get $100,000.

Offensive coordinator Colin Hitschler received a three-year contract that will pay him an average salary of $1.6 million per year (including hiring and retention bonuses). Defensive coordinator Dean Kennedy received a two-year contract that will pay him an average salary of $1.34 million under a similar structure.

Most of the other assistants received two-year contracts.

Including bonuses, offensive line coach Chris Smith will make an average of $845,000 per year; director of athletic performance Chris Grautski will make $725,000 per year; tight ends coach and special teams coordinator Drew Canan will make $637,500 per year; defensive line coach Legi Suiaunoa will make $550,000 per year; linebackers coach Vic So’oto will $500,000 per year; defensive backs coach Eddie Whitley Jr. and safeties coach Anthony DiMichele will each make $475,000 per year; running backs coach A.J. Steward will make $405,000 per year, wide receivers coach Colin Lockett will make $316,667 per year; and nickel backs coach Gabe Lynn will make $300,000 per year.

General manager Darrick Yray received a two-year contract that will pay him $475,000 per year. Defensive ends coach Sam Daniels was given a one-year contract that will pay him $450,000 and chief of staff Matt Transue got a one-year contract that will pay him $350,000.