Brad Brownell, Erik Bakich get big raises at Clemson. Here are the details

Clemson men’s basketball coach Brad Brownell and baseball coach Erik Bakich both led their teams to banner years in 2023-24. Now, they’re getting rewarded for it.

The Clemson board of trustees compensation committee unanimously approved on Thursday new contract extensions and raises for Brownell and Bakich after both coaches led their teams deep into the NCAA Tournament earlier this year.

Brownell, 55, who led Clemson basketball to only its second Elite Eight in program history and first in 44 years, received a five-year extension through April 2029 and a $500,000 boost in total salary for 2024-25 (from $3 million to $3.5 million).

Under Brownell’s new five-year, $20 million deal, his total salary will also automatically increase by $250,000 over the following four years, topping out at $4.5 million in 2028-29.

Brownell, the winningest coach in program history who will enter his 15th season this fall, said in a statement he was “honored and grateful.”

“I want to thank (athletic director) Graham Neff, President Jim Clements and our entire administration for their continued belief and confidence in me and my staff,” Brownell said. “I am extremely proud of our recent success, both on and off the court, and there is not a better time than now to be a part of the Clemson family.”

Bakich, 46, also earned a major salary boost after leading Clemson baseball to a second consecutive top eight national seed and its first NCAA super regional appearance since 2010 in his second season on campus.

Bakich received a two-year extension through June 2030 and saw his total salary jump from $950,000 to $1.275 million for 2024-25 (a top 10 salary among NCAA baseball coaches nationally, per Front Office Sports).

Bakich’s total compensation will then increase by $500,000 annually over the next five years and top out at $1.525 million in 2029-30 in a six-year, $8.4 million deal. He’ll also receive a $200,000 retention bonus on Sept. 1, 2024.

Bakich — who’s considered one of the top young coaches in the sport and was mentioned as a candidate for the Texas job earlier this summer — gets another $200,000 retention bonus on Sept. 1, 2027, and Sept. 1, 2029 “if employed.”

Clemson AD Graham Neff, who hired Bakich away from Michigan two years ago after firing Monte Lee and chose to retain Brownell after he missed back-to-back NCAA Tournaments, played a key role in both negotiations and presented both for approval to the board’s compensation committee Thursday.

The committee also approved extensions and/or raises to other coaches, including 2023 national championship-winning men’s soccer coach Mike Noonan, women’s soccer coach Eddie Radwanski and various men’s basketball and baseball assistants.

“In addition to countless accolades on the field, each of these leaders run programs built upon integrity and academic excellence,” Neff said in a statement. “In an evolving environment, stability is critical, and provides Clemson the opportunity to compete nationally.”

Brownell, whose previous deal was set to expire in 2026, would be owed 50% of his remaining total compensation if he’s fired without cause over the first two years of his new deal (through 2025-26 season). That number drops to 37.5% of his remaining compensations for years 3-5 (2026-29).

Brownell’s 2024-25 total compensation ($3.5 million) should situate him somewhere in the No. 25-30 range for highest paid NCAA men’s basketball coaches after he ranked No. 46 on that list last season, according to USA Today Sports data.

Bakich, under his new deal, is owed 100% of his remaining total compensation if fired without cause over the first three years of his deal (through 2027) and 50% of his remaining compensation if he’s fired over years 4-6 of the contract (2028-30).

New Clemson coaching contracts

Salaries listed reflect total compensation, not base compensation

Brad Brownell, men’s basketball coach

• Previous salary: $3 million

• 2024-25 salary: $3.5 million

• New deal: five years, $20 million through 2029

Erik Bakich, baseball coach

• Previous salary: $950,000

• 2024-25 salary: $1.275 million

• New deal: six years, $8.4 million through 2030

Billy Donlon, men’s basketball associate head coach

• Previous salary: $450,000

• 2024-25 salary: $500,000

• New deal: two years, $1 million through 2026

Sean Dixon, men’s basketball assistant coach

• Previous salary: $285,000

• 2024-25 salary: $350,000

• New deal: two years, $700,000 through 2026

Dick Bender, men’s basketball assistant coach **

• Previous salary: $250,000

• 2024-25 salary: $300,000

• New deal: Two years, $600,000 through 2026

Nick Schnabel, baseball assistant head coach/recruiting coordinator

• Previous salary: $300,000

• 2024-25 salary: $400,000

• New deal: three years, $1.275 million through 2027

Jimmy Belanger, baseball assistant coach

• Previous salary: $250,000

• 2024-25 salary: $350,000

• New deal: three years, $1.125 million through 2027

Mike Noonan, men’s soccer coach

• Previous salary: $440,000

• 2024-25 salary: $600,000

• New deal: six years, $3.86 million through 2029

Eddie Radwanski, women’s soccer coach

• Previous salary: $205,000

• 2024-25 salary: $230,000

• New deal: five years, $1.24 million through 2028

Kelly Hester, women’s golf coach **

• Previous salary: $165,000

• 2024-25 salary: $190,000

• New deal: three years, $585,000 through 2029

** Did not require formal board of trustees approval based on compensation committee guidelines but were included for informational purposes