Bob Stoops’ contract extended; Sooners assistants get raises

Remember a few years ago when it seemed like Bob Stoops was always the subject of a rumor he might be leaving Oklahoma?

It might be time to put those to bed after the school not only gave him a modest raise but re-upped his assistants as well.

The Tulsa World reports a contract extension and raise were part of a slew of updates approved by the Oklahoma Board of Regents during a meeting Tuesday.

Coach Bob Stoops’ salary will increase $25,000 on Jan. 1, 2017 and Jan. 1, 2019, the regents announced Tuesday. He made $5.4 million in guaranteed pay in 2015 and will be paid $5.55 million in 2016. His contract, which previously ran through 2020, was extended to 2021.

Perhaps more importantly, the regents gave more money to wunderkind offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley, whose first season as offensive coordinator in Norman was a smashing success, and Mike Stoops, the Sooners’ defensive coordinator and Bob’s brother.

Both are set to make $900,000 this season.

Riley, who made $500,000 during his first year with the Sooners, received a raise to $850,000 annually. An annual $50,000 stay bonus, paid in 2016 and 2017, was also implemented in Riley’s contract.

Defensive coordinator Mike Stoops received a $50,000 raise to his $850,000 annual salary.

These days big money for head coaches hardly makes headlines anymore, but escalating assistant salaries have become a big part of the never-ending college football arms race.

The World also reports assistants Bill Bedenbaugh, Jay Boulware, Kerry Cooks, Cale Bundy, Tim Kish and Dennis Simmons all got extensions and raises of varying lengths.