It seems Clemson understands the value of a good defense.
Yahoo Sports on Thursday reported that Clemson will extend Brent Venables' contract, paying him $11.6 million over the course of five years — the largest contract in history for a non-head coach.
He will make $2 million annually in salary and $200,000 in retention bonuses through the first two years of the contract. He will be paid $400,000 in retention bonuses over its remainder.
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According to Yahoo Sports, the contract will be approved by the university's board of trustees on Thursday. If approved, Venables' $2.3 million annual salary will rank second among assistnats, behind only LSU defensive coordinator Dava Aranda, who averages $2.5 million annually. Venables' overall total of $11.6 million still eclipses Aranda's $10 million total.
Venables, considered one of the best defensive coordinators in college football, does not have a buyout clause in his contract if he were to leave for a head coaching job. He would have to pay one quarter of his remaining contract depending on when — if — he left Clemson.
Venables, the 2016 recipient of the Broyles Award — given to the country's best assistant coach — has helped turn Clemson into a consistently dominant defensive force. The Tigers have ranked in the top 10 in total defense each of the last four years. Last year, Clemson ranked sixth in total defense (278 yards a game) and second in scoring defense (12.8 points per game), and looks to field another fantastic defense in 2018.
