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Texas A&M is spending almost twice as much money on its offensive coordinator in 2016.
After a disastrous 2015 in which the Aggies lost three quarterbacks to transfers, saw the passing game get stagnant and reportedly dealt with internal riff on the offensive staff, coach Kevin Sumlin replaced Jake Spavital with the veteran Noel Mazzone.
To convince Mazzone to make the move from Los Angeles (UCLA) to College Station, where he could be out of work as soon as 2017, the Aggies gave him a raise of just more than $100,000 per year.
According to footballscoop.com, Mazzone will make $965,000 in the first season of a three-year deal. That includes a $165,000 signing bonus. In addition, Texas A&M will owe him $500,000 for each remaining year if he is fired without cause, granting him some extra security.
Spavital made $483,500 in 2015 according to the USA Today database for assistant coaches. Spavital was the second-highest paid Aggies assistant last season behind John Chavis ($1.5 million).
Texas A&M’s offense averaged 424.7 yards per game, the fourth consecutive season in which it declined. That’s a far cry from 2012, when a Johnny Manziel-fueled unit averaged 558.5 yards per contest.
Mazzone will need to incorporate Oklahoma transfer quarterback Trevor Knight, whom most assume will start ahead of Jake Hubenak, the bowl game signal-caller. If Sumlin is to keep his job beyond next season, Mazzone will deserve another big bonus.
This is Mazzone’s fourth stop in the SEC West, having spent two stints as offensive coordinator at Ole Miss and one at Auburn.
An itinerant journalist, Christopher has moved between states 11 times in seven years. Formally an injury-prone Division I 800-meter specialist, he now wanders the Rockies in search of high peaks.
