Florida State softball coach Lonni Alameda agrees to new contract extension
Despite receiving heavy interest from Texas A&M, Florida State softball coach Lonni Alameda will be staying with the Seminoles.
Alameda has agreed to a new contract extension after signing a seven-year extension last July, FSU announced in a press release Monday.
Last year, Alameda signed a seven-year extension that promised $4.55 million in guaranteed money over the length of the contract plus potential performance bonuses.
This next extension announced Monday tacks one more year onto the deal, making it an eight-year deal that extends through the 2029 season. That eighth year is tacked on at $460,000 in base salary plus $150,000 in retention and longevity bonuses.
With her salary increased in a few other years in her new extension as well, she's now set to make $5.615 million in guaranteed money over her eight-year contract.
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"I am so thankful for this game of softball. It has allowed me to grow in so many areas of my life," Alameda said via press release.
"I am proud of the family that has been built in Tallahassee from the players, staff and community. Our mission daily is to give everything we can to our team, and knowing that our Athletic Director Michael Alford and President Richard McCullough support that vision of growth for these student-athletes is a wonderful feeling. I am grateful for this opportunity to lead this softball family with a village of support from so many in Tallahassee and beyond. What a journey it has been, and I am excited for what is ahead for the Garnet and Gold."
Lonni Alameda made sure her assistant coaches will also be well-compensated
Alameda also looked out for the other coaches and personnel within her program as part of her new contract extension. The original contract extension called for the assistant coach salary pool to increase by $10,000 this August if the assistants all remained employed.
Now, the new contract states that the assistant coaching pool will increase by $60,000 this August. $40,000 of that will towards a newly-created director of player development position. The contract also dictates that funding for the graduate assistants and managers will be $70,000.
Alameda has made the Seminoles one of the preeminent softball programs in the country, leading FSU to an NCAA Championship in 2018 and one win away from another national title in 2021.
This year's shocking exit in the Tallahassee Regional marked the first time since 2012 that FSU failed to advance to a Super Regional.
"I am excited for Florida State and for the student-athletes in our program as we announce a well-earned contract extension for Coach Alameda," FSU director of athletics Michael Alford said in the press release.
"She has made a tremendous impact on our program as she enters her 15th season here in Tallahassee. We have one of the largest annual investments in softball in the country, and our fans have continually shown up to create an incredible atmosphere at JoAnne Graf Field. We have already started our offseason projects to continue to provide the absolute best experience for our student-athletes as we work to return to Oklahoma City."
It was reported last month that Texas A&M as heavily pursuing Alameda to replace longtime head coach Jo Evans. One website, TexAgs, even reported that Alameda visited College Station.
However, FSU assistant coach Travis Wilson tweeted out a picture of Alameda with the caption "LOYAL" on May 30, an early indicator that she was passing on what has been reported to be an impressive offer to leave the Seminoles' post.
This was already going to be an offseason of renovation at JoAnne Graf Field. FSU said in its press release that it has committed over $2 million towards various renovation projects on and around FSU's softball field in advance of the 2023 season.
The known list of renovations before this new contract included a new scoreboard in right field, addition of more premium seating on top of the FSU bullpen and entirely new grass on the field.
Additional capital projects in Alameda's new extension include the addition of a video pole in center field, new turf behind home plate, down the lines and in the visitor's bullpen, a seating expansion down the left-field line and renovation of the press box and locker room.
Reach Curt Weiler at cweiler@tallahassee.com or follow him on Twitter @CurtMWeiler.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Lonni Alameda agrees to new contract to remain FSU softball coach
