Georgia's Grantham gets $75,000 hike, extension

Friday, January 1, 1904

photo Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham talks with members of the defense during a spring NCAA college football game at Sandford Stadium in Athens, Ga.

Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham will make $825,000 during the upcoming season, and he has a new extension that will run through the 2014 season.

Grantham made $750,000 in each of his first two years with the Bulldogs after a decade-plus stint as an assistant coach in the National Football League. The $75,000 raise will make him one of the five highest-paid assistants in college football, yet he ranks fourth among Southeastern Conference defensive coordinators.

Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris is the nation's highest-paid assistant at $1.3 million annually, and he is followed by Alabama's Kirby Smart ($950,000), LSU's Johnny Chavis ($900,000) and Auburn's Brian VanGorder ($850,000). VanGorder was Georgia's 2001-04 defensive coordinator and spent the past four seasons in the same role with the Atlanta Falcons.

Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo worked last season at $325,000.

Included in Grantham's new contract are increased incentives. He will receive an extra $150,000 if the Bulldogs win the BCS championship, $100,000 if they get to a BCS bowl and $75,000 if they win the SEC title.

Georgia ranked fifth nationally in total defense last season, allowing just 277.21 yards a game. The Bulldogs were 23rd nationally in scoring defense, yielding 20.57 points per contest, but that average included four Aaron Murray interceptions that were returned for touchdowns, two punt returns for touchdowns and two kickoff returns for scores.