Head coach Jeff Brohm signed his multiyear extension with Louisville football on Monday, Aug. 10, according to records obtained by The Courier Journal. The signing came nearly four months after the University of Louisville Athletic Association first approved the contract amendment. The ULAA approved the extension through 2033 for a total salary value of $64.8 million during an April 23 board meeting. The average annual compensation of Brohm's initial deal was $6.49 million. His new deal averages $8.1 million. UofL athletics director Josh Heird signed Brohm's extension on Tuesday, Aug. 11. Why didn't either party put pen to paper until now? "I think everybody's always like, 'Alright, the board approved it, should be signed tomorrow," Heird told The Courier Journal on Thursday, Aug. 13. "What we present to the board is a term sheet, and those are the main deal points of contract. And then lawyers get involved. And that's what happened here. I know Jeff and I didn't talk about it one time. It's all, you know, 'This word needs to change. That word needs to change,' and it's just lawyers being lawyers." Brohm, the former Cardinals quarterback (1989-93), became his alma mater's head coach in December 2022. His initial contract term was set to expire after the 2028 season but was automatically extended to 2030 after consecutive 10- and nine-win seasons in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Contract negotiation talks between Brohm and UofL started in December. His name was linked to several Power Four openings this offseason, including Florida, Michigan and Penn State, the last of which made Brohm an offer he turned down. Toward the end of March and beginning of April, reports swirled on social media that talks between Brohm and athletics director Josh Heird had grown contentious, including one rumor that alleged a meeting between the two ended with Brohm kicking Heird out of his office. Neither Brohm nor Heird substantiated that claim in subsequent media availabilities. Brohm declined to speak publicly about negotiations on April 9 but did say, "I'm hopeful that things get done." Earlier that day, Heird said, "What was said in there will stay between us." He also explained that more goes into a contract negotiation during the NIL and revenue-sharing era than in years past. "I do think it's more complex and more complicated than it used to be with the amount of resources that have to go to different places," Heird said. "Previously, it was just operational and coaching staff salaries, whatever. Now we have a whole other line item over there that we've got to try to manage, and all of those play off of each other. And that's where we're at right now, is just trying to sort through all that." Two weeks later, the extension became official. "I think it was meeting in the middle on some things here," Heird said on April 23 when asked what specific assurances were made to get the deal done. "I know a lot's been said about various points in the contract, and at the end of the day, I think Jeff and I can both be pretty principled and say that we're gonna stand on something. And I think we did that maybe a little bit longer than either of us probably should have. "And we got to the point where we said, 'Hey, let's find some common ground here. Let's do what's best for the university.' And I think we were able to do that." Jeff Brohm's contract extension details Brohm's base salary in 2023 was $5 million. That number was set to increase by $100,000 in each of the first six years of his contract, up to $5.5 million in 2028. His base salary could have leapt to $6.5 million in 2029 and $7 million in 2030. In his new contract, Brohm's salary will increase as follows, according to a copy of the signed contract amendment:
2026: $6.3 million ($6.55 million with a retention bonus) 2027: $7.2 million ($7.95 million with retention) 2028: $7.3 million ($8.3 million with retention) 2029: $7.4 million ($8.4 million with retention) 2030: $7.5 million ($8.5 million with retention) 2031: $7.6 million ($8.6 million with retention) 2032: $7.7 million ($8.7 million with retention) 2033: $7.8 million
College Football Playoff success could increase Brohm's base salary. Whichever highest of the following feats is accomplished in a given season, that corresponding amount will be tacked onto Brohm's annual compensation (incentives can be achieved multiple times during the term, though annual compensation with retention bonuses and success increases will be capped at $12 million):
CFP appearance: $500,000 CFP quarterfinal appearance: $1 million CFP semifinal appearance: $1.25 million CFP championship game appearance: $1.5 million National championship: $2 million
Aside from base salary, Brohm was eligible for or gifted the following in his initial contract with UofL: bonuses for coach of the year awards, total wins, average team GPA, staying on as head coach and participation in the ACC championship game and the College Football Playoff, as well as other bowl games; free tickets to Louisville football, volleyball and men's and women's basketball games; a family membership to the University of Louisville Golf Club; an automobile allowance; a $15 million life insurance policy owned and paid for by the school; and the freedom to pursue outside income. Bonuses in his new amendment include:
Conference Coach of the Year (by the league or "a major publication"): $50,000 National Coach of the Year: $50,000 (In the event Brohm earned Conference Coach of the Year and National Coach of the Year distinctions, he would only be awarded one $50,000 bonus.) Conference championship game participation: $100,000 Conference championship game victory: $250,000 (In the event UofL wins the conference championship game, Brohm would not also receive the $100,000 participation bonus.) Participation in a Tier 1 bowl game, which includes the first three selections from the ACC (Pop-Tart, Holiday and Gator bowls this past season): $250,000 Making the final CFP Top 25 ranking: $250,000 Average team GPA of 2.8: $75,000 Average team GPA of 3.0: $150,000 (In the event the team GPA is 3.0 or higher, Brohm would not also receive the $75,000 bonus for a 2.8 average.)
The amendment also outlines an increase of $750,000 to Brohm's current $5.5 million staff budget. That makes for a total staff pool of $6.25 million for the 2026-27 fiscal year. The pool will increase annually by 5%. What is Jeff Brohm's buyout? Should UofL terminate Brohm without cause before Dec. 31, 2029, it would owe him 90% of his remaining salary, or approximately $27.5 million. After Dec. 31, 2029, but before Dec. 31, 2033, he'd be owed 100% of his remaining salary, or approximately $30.6 million. If Brohm were to leave before Dec, 31, 2027, he would owe UofL $3 million. If he were to leave after Dec. 31, 2027, but before Dec. 31, 2033, he would owe $1 million. Who is Jeff Brohm's agent? Brohm's agent is Shawn Freibert. He is certified by the NFL Players Association and also represents UofL general manager Vince Marrow. .oembed-frame {width:100%;height:100%;margin:0;border:0;}
Reach college sports enterprise reporter Payton Titus at ptitus@gannett.com and follow her on X @petitus25. Subscribe to her "Full-court Press" newsletter here for a behind-the-scenes look at how college sports' biggest stories are impacting Louisville and Kentucky athletics. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville football coach Jeff Brohm finally signs extension. Why now?