AUBURN — DJ Durkin has agreed to a new contract to stay on as Hugh Freeze and Auburn football‘s defensive coordinator, which was obtained by the Montgomery Advertiser and USA TODAY Network via an open records request Monday.
The deal both extends Durkin’s initial contract and makes him one of the highest-paid assistants in college football.
Durkin’s new contract, signed Feb. 5, adds a year to his initial deal, which had him on the Plains from 2024 to 2026. It also boosts his base salary more than seven figures, up to $2.5 million for 2025 after being paid $1.2 million for the 2024 season.
Last season, Durkin’s new salary would’ve made him the highest-paid assistant in college football, matching LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker’s pay. However, newly anointed Penn State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles agreed to a contract with the Nittany Lions in late January that will pay him $3.1 million.
Durkin would have made $1.4 million for the 2025 season had he remained on his initial contract, and his newly signed deal also includes an annual $200,000 escalator, meaning the total value of his new three-year contract sits at $7.9 million in base salary.
According to USA TODAY’s assistant coach salary database, nine assistants made at least $2 million last fall, including Knowles and former Ohio State offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, among others.
Like each of Auburn’s on-field assistants, Durkin is eligible for an identical bonus structure, which includes additional payouts for postseason victories and appearances. The deal also includes termination and mitigation clauses, should Durkin be fired by Auburn with or without cause, resign, or should he decide to terminate his contract.
Adam Cole is the Auburn athletics beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached via email at acole@gannett.com or on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @colereporter.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Auburn football DC DJ Durkin signs new contract ahead of 2025 season
