Josh Heupel has been financially rewarded by Tennessee in a big way.
The Volunteers announced on Tuesday that they have signed Heupel to a contract extension that runs through January 2029. The extension will pay Heupel $9 million per year, plus incentives.
Heupel just completed his second season as the Vols’ head coach. After going 7-6 in his first season, Heupel took things to a completely new level last season. The Vols began the season 8-0 and beat LSU and Alabama to show how legit they were. Their losses came to eventual national champion Georgia on the road and then to South Carolina.
![Josh Heupel in a headset](https://larrybrownsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/josh-heupel-800x450.jpg)
Tennessee capped off its season with a 31-14 win over Clemson in the Orange Bowl with backup Joe Milton at quarterback.
Heupel went 28-8 in three seasons at UCF before coming to Knoxville, where he has shown he is the real deal. Tennessee recognized that and wants to ensure the former Heisman Trophy runner-up isn’t going anywhere.
As ESPN’s Chris Low notes, Nick Saban, Kirby Smart and Brian Kelly are the only SEC coaches making more money than Heupel now.
In going to $9 million per year, @coachjoshheupel now ranks in the upper tier of SEC head football coaches after two seasons at @Vol_Football. Only Nick Saban, Kirby Smart, Jimbo Fisher and Brian Kelly make more. Heupel was hired at $4 million and bumped to $5 million last year.
— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) January 24, 2023
Heupel is now on par with Jimbo Fisher, who is also making $9 million per year.