What the Outback Bowl, Jimmy Sexton mean for Arkansas football coach Sam Pittman's contract

Arkansas football's best season in years has been a boon for recruiting, athletics department revenue and fans, but it's especially sweet for coach Sam Pittman.

Pittman, who was named coach of the year by the American Football Coaches' Association for his region Monday, triggered a $750,000 pay raise after the Razorbacks secured their first eight-win season since 2015.

The raise is one of several performance incentives baked into Pittman's contract.

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Entering this season, Pittman's annual salary was $3 million, which ranked 12th among the 13 Southeastern Conference coaches at public universities. That number increases to $3.75 million after the eight-win season, which is still less than Arkansas basketball coach Eric Musselman's $4 million per year.

Arkansas' selection for the Outback Bowl also comes with a purse for Pittman. He receives a $150,000 bonus for making what is deemed a "Tier 2" bowl in Pittman's contract. Selection for the Gator, Music City, Texas, Duke's Mayo or Liberty Bowls would have triggered the same bonus.

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With the Outback Bowl berth, Pittman also earned an automatic one-year contract extension. His original deal went through 2024, but an agreement in May essentially reset his contract, extending him through 2025. With this bowl extension factored in, Pittman's contract now extends through 2026.

On Sunday, Pittman made headlines for changing agents. He had been represented by Judy Henry of Arkansas-based firm Wright Lindsey Jennings, but he made the switch to Jimmy Sexton. Sexton is the agent for a number of high-profile coaches, including Alabama's Nick Saban, Georgia's Kirby Smart, Texas A&M’s Jimbo Fisher and Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin.

The move to a new, big-name agent isn't an indicator of his status as Arkansas' coach changing any time soon. What it likely means is that a new contract could be coming, and Pittman might not be so low on the SEC salary rankings if it happens.

"I don’t want my loyalty to the university to be tested," Pittman said Sunday. "I’ve said that I would never leave the University of Arkansas, and I’m not going to. Getting an agent doesn’t mean that I’m leaving. Getting a new agent has nothing to do with that. I’ve said this is my last job and it’s damn sure going to be that."

Christina Long covers the Arkansas Razorbacks. You can email her at clong@swtimes.com or follow her on Twitter @christinalong00.

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: How Sam Pittman's Arkansas contract is impacted by bowl, Jimmy Sexton