After leading Memphis to a 9-3 record this year, Justin Fuente has agreed to a contract extension that will keep him in Memphis long term.
Memphis coach Justin Fuente led the Tigers to a share of the American Athletic Conference championship. Now, the school is rewarding him for it.
A source with knowledge of the situation said Memphis and Fuente have agreed to a five-year contract starting at $1.4 million per season. The contract goes up by $25,000 per year for each year of the deal. The buyout remains unchanged at $500,000. Fuente made around $1 million in 2014.
Also included in the agreement is an addition of $150,000 to the salary pool for assistant coaches.
Fuente, 38, led Memphis to a 9-3 campaign this fall and secured the school’s first bowl bid since 2008 and first conference title since 1971. His name surfaced in multiple coaching searches this year, as his success at Memphis and background under Gary Patterson at TCU have made him an attractive candidate.
This is a smart move by Memphis. Fuente’s name is sure to become a hot topic in the coming seasons if he continues to build upon what he established this year. Though the Tigers have had some success with the football program over the years, Memphis is more known for it’s success in basketball rather than football. Anytime you get a coach that can manufacture nine wins at a place like Mempihs, you need to find a way to keep him.