The Louisville Cardinals managed to keep defensive coordinator Todd Grantham and are now reportedly negotiating a sizeable pay raise.
Speaking with ESPN, Michael Harrison, Grantham's agent, said his client's contract is being restructured to make him one of the highest paid coordinators in college football. Grantham reportedly made a little less than $1 million last season and his raise in average annual value (AAV) could be around $500,000.
Scout.com previously reported that Grantham turned down a contract from the Oakland Raiders to be newly hired head coach Jack Del Rio's defensive coordinator. He was reportedly offered a two-year contract, but the value of that contract is not known.
In his first year as Louisville's defensive coordinator, Grantham and the Cardinal defense ranked among the nation's leaders in several categories like rushing yards, scoring and more. Harrison told ESPN Grantham's raise could boost his AAV to $1.4 million, though it is unclear if Louisville would also extend the defensive coordinator.
Hired in Dec., Will Muschamp is the highest paid coordinator in college football, earning about $1.7 million per year. Auburn University hired the former Florida head coach to run - and essentially revamp - the Tigers' defense.
Grantham's raise would put him in the company of LSU offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart and newly hired Texas A&M defensive coordinator John Chavis.
Like many of the aforementioned coordinators, Grantham will soon make more money per year than several non-Power-5 head coaches do, ESPN noted. With Florida State losing Jameis Winston to the NFL, Louisville may be ready to take a large step forward in the ACC.
Todd Grantham is apparently an important cog in that step.
