Note: This article has been amended to reflect additional details surrounding compensation for assistants, as well as funding for recruiting purposes.
When you win ACC Coach of the Year, people tend to notice. In the case of Justin Fuente, Virginia Tech definitely noticed.
Virginia Tech announced on Monday that the university and football coach Justin Fuente had signed a contract extension that keeps Fuente under contract through the 2023 season.
“Coach Fuente has exceeded our expectations in terms of how well he and his staff have embraced the winning tradition established by coach Beamer at Virginia Tech, while adding their own distinct touches to enhance the legacy of our program,” said Virginia Tech Director of Athletics Whit Babcock in a statement. Justin has set high expectations for our team in the classroom, in the community and on the field. I personally appreciate the way he exemplifies our Virginia Tech values and helps instill those attributes in our student-athletes. I have the utmost confidence in his ability to lead our program as he continues making a positive impact on our campus and in the lives of every individual associated with Virginia Tech football.”
Fuente’s original deal lasted through the 2021 season, meaning this deal is a two-year extension. Fuente made $3.2 million for the 2016 season, and his extension boosts his pay raises slightly throughout his tenure.
- 2016: $3.2 million
- 2017: $3.25 million
- 2018: $3.4 million
- 2019: $3.5 million
- 2020: $3.65 million
- 2021: $3.75 million
- 2022: $3.9 million
- 2023: $4 million
Fuente also has two retention bonuses of $200,000 and $200,000, each payable on April 1 of 2018 and 2020, respectively.
Here are the buyout figures if Fuente should want to get out of his contract to pursue another coaching position.
- 2017: $6 million
- 2018: $5 million
- 2019: $3 million
- 2020: $1 million
- 2021: $750,000
- 2022: $500,000
“My family feels incredibly blessed that I’m able to work at Virginia Tech and we’re able call Blacksburg our home,” Fuente said in a statement. “I am very appreciative for the leadership of Whit, Desiree [Reed-Francois], Dr. [Tim] Sands and the Board of Visitors in making Virginia Tech such an attractive destination for a head coach and a staff. Their support, a talented and hard-working group student-athletes and an unbelievably passionate fan base were all paramount in helping us build on coach Beamer’s winning culture.”
Two other note-worthy portions related to Fuente’s contract extension center around additional funding for assistant coaches and recruiting staff. Per The Roanoke Times’ Andy Bitter, Fuente will have $167,500 more for “football-related staff members” and an additional $32,000 for a new full-time recruiting staff member.
Fuente's new contract includes assistant bonuses for making ACC title game, $167K more in salary pool & new recruiting position. #Hokies pic.twitter.com/j6k0XRDBt8
— Andy Bitter (@AndyBitterVT) April 7, 2017
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If he has a bad year like Frank did, I can just see the nashing of teeth on this board. Wonder if he will get the same support that Frank did? I sure hope so.
I don’t know. I love what the guy has done but he’s been here 1 year. Do we have to buy out all of that if things go sour?
These contract extensions are basically PR moves. If some Notre Dame type of job comes calling, they can more than afford the buyout.
How would you suggest we demonstrate that we want him for as long as we can keep him? We could give him an empty VP title or something, but I think $$ speaks much more clearly!
JMO
Contracts can be PR motivated but try going into a courtroom and arguing that it’s just PR. Those numbers have meaning if one of the parties wants to violate the terms and the other party disagrees. Both parties got value from that contract or else it wouldn’t have been signed.
I don’t doubt that. It’s just premature to get too excited that he’s going to be here and everything’s gonna be great “forever.” It’s too easy to absorb this kind of news subconsciously that way.
Not a real question, it’s a statement of fact in question form – Did we get a good one or what?
Go Hokies!
We got a great one!
4M is not a lot of money in 2023 for a top tier ACC coach. Whit will have to up the ante a few more times before then.
AD is Whit Babcock, Deputy AD is Desiree Reed- Francois
Who is our AD?
I thought, “What the …. ?” then noticed the omission. Fixed, thanks.
Money well spent!