Kansas Athletics has signed an amended contract with football coach Lance Leipold, who is now set to make more than $8 million through April 2025.
The total package of benefits and bonuses will place him as one of the three highest-paid football coaches among the 14 in the Big 12 conference.
The contract includes a $1 million signing bonus and a $500,000 retention bonus for each year he stays at Kansas. He’ll average about $6.5 million per year through the rest of the contract, not including performance bonuses.
Leipold just wrapped up his third season at the helm of the Jayhawks. During his time with KU, the Jayhawks have made two bowl game appearances and achieved their first bowl win in more than a decade.
The contract does not include any new years in the deal, and it will still run until April 30, 2030.
“We are incredibly proud of what our football program has accomplished over the first three seasons in Lawrence, and look forward to the continued challenge of bringing a consistent winner and championship home to the University of Kansas,” Leipold said in a KU news release.
Leipold’s success has generated him a flurry of attention from head coaching vacancies nationwide. The new contract includes a buyout if Leipold were to leave Kansas for another coaching job. He would owe $6 million if he leaves on or before April 30, 2024. The buyout decreases by $1 million each following year.
The contract includes bonuses depending on the team’s performance: $50,000 if Kansas finishes the year ranked in the top 25; $50,000 if the Jayhawks win seven regular season games; and $200,000 if they win nine.
The salary pool for assistant coaches also increases throughout the life of the contract. Kansas has seen a handful of top assistant coaches depart this offseason, including offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki and offensive line coach Scott Fuchs.
Leipold’s raise signals a continued financial commitment from the university toward its football program. A $448 million revamp of the team’s football stadium and surrounding area has already begun.
“Today’s announcement is an indicator of two absolute truths surrounding Kansas Football,” Athletic Director Travis Goff said in the release. “Lance Leipold is among the very best coaches and leaders in the country and the University of Kansas continues to be unwavering in its commitment to building a championship-caliber football program for the long haul.”
Here’s the amendment to Leipold’s November 2022 contract. It’s effective Dec. 1, 2023 through April 30, 2030.
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Cuyler Dunn (he/him), a contributor to The Lawrence Times since April 2022, is a student at the University of Kansas School of Journalism. He is a graduate of Lawrence High School where he was the editor-in-chief of the school’s newspaper, The Budget, and was named the 2022 Kansas High School Journalist of the Year. Read his complete bio here. Read more of his work for the Times here.
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