Southern Miss’ new coach will be the highest-paid in school history. Here are the details
Southern Miss formally introduced its newest head coach Thursday with a pair of announcements made in conjunction.
Along with the news from university president Dr. Joe Paul that athletic director Jeremy McClain will receive a four-year contract extension, the details of new coach Charles Huff’s contract were revealed.
Huff arrives from Marshall, where he spent four seasons that culminated in a Sun Belt Conference championship in 2024. His new compensation package from USM will reflect that as the school is making Huff the highest-paid coach in program history.
Huff’s base salary will be a raise from the $755,000 he earned annually at Marshall to $950,000 at USM. The contract is a four-year deal with a one-year automatic rollover that essentially acts as a mutual option for a fifth year in 2029.
The buyout should Huff’s contract be terminated without clause is 100 percent of the total remaining annual compensation, in line with previous contracts at the school.
Huff will have an assistant salary pool totaling $2.35 million, which includes $1.75 million for full-time assistants and $600,000 for support staff,
The incentives package maxes at $870,000 total with each incentive category holding a max payout. A conference championship would net Huff an $50,000 and a non-College Football Playoff bowl game would also earn $50,000. An appearance in the first round of the CFP pays out $150,000 and a national championship win would pay $650,000.
Huff will receive an $30,000 for each season USM wins at least seven games, $25,000 for finishing the CFP top 25 and $25,000 for each win over a Power Five opponent, including Notre Dame.
Southern Miss opens the Huff era by hosting Mississippi State on Aug. 30.
