Major College Football Coordinator Lands $2.5 Million Extension Despite Disappointing Season

With the massive contract given to defensive coordinator Jim Knowles to join the Penn State Nittany Lions, a market reset has occurred. Knowles is to be paid $3.1 million annually, and with this latest contract extension, the Auburn Tigers are making DJ Durkin the second-highest paid defensive coordinator at $2.5 million. The Durkin-led Tigers’ defense allowed 21.3 points per game last season, 28th in FBS and allowed 330.8 yards per game (31st). The 47-year-old coach joined Auburn ahead of the 2024 season. In the previous two seasons, he was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for Texas A&M.

 

Durkin served as the Maryland Terrapins head coach from 2016 to 2018. In August 2018, he was placed on administrative leave while at Maryland following an investigation of a ‘toxic culture’ after the death of a player, Jordan McNair.

The then 19-year-old offensive lineman was hospitalized after suffering from heat stroke and subsequent seizure at a team practice. Despite an emergency liver transplant, McNair tragically passed roughly two weeks later. The University of Maryland tried to bring Durkin back in his head coaching role, but after intense public pressure, he was fired. Durkin would work as a consultant next for the Atlanta Falcons before landing a co-DC job at Ole Miss for the 2020 and 2021 seasons. Durkin’s contract extension adds a year to his initial deal, per Adam Cole of the Montgomery Advertiser.