The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are still seeking a return to its former glory days. After the Geoff Collins era ended without much fanfare, the Yellow Jackets turned to former player and staffer Brent Key to take the reins.
Key coached under Collins and was named interim head coach when Collins was fired midway through the 2022 season. Here’s Brent Key’s salary, contract, net worth, and more.
Brent Key Salary and Contract in 2023
Despite residing in one of the biggest metro areas in the south, Georgia Tech failed to open the checkbook for Key, as Sports Illustrated has him as the lowest-paid head coach in the ACC.
The Yellow Jackets conducted a coaching search but ultimately settled on taking the interim title away from Key and giving him the job permanently in November of 2022. Much of that decision had to do with the team’s 4-4 record under Key, including two top-25 upsets over Pittsburgh and North Carolina.
MORE: ACC Standings, 2023
Key has the Yellow Jackets humming in 2023, and may be in line for a raise and extension. However, Key is the third-lowest paid head coach in the Power Five, ahead of only Washington State’s Jake Dickert and UCF’s Gus Malzahn. According to the annual report, Key was set to make $2.8 million in 2023.
Overall, Key’s contract that was signed last November is for five years and $15 million. His buyout drops over time until it reaches 50 percent of the amount owed after the fourth season. Interestingly, Key was granted a hefty increase in the assistant salary pool, up to $7.5 million, or a 30 percent increase from Collins’ allowance. He can receive a merit-based bonus of up to $1.175 million, per a USA Today report.
Key’s Net Worth
While Key’s net worth is not known, his previous salaries are known. From 2010 to 2015, he saw his annual salary at UCF jump from just over $100,000 to nearly $1 million before he took a huge cut to move to Alabama. There, he made between $350,000 and $500,000 before he was hired at Georgia Tech in 2018, making $600,000 in that year.
Key then saw his salary increase to $655,000 in 2022 before he signed his newest contract. Some sources estimate his net worth anywhere between $1 million and $5 million, though based on his recent contracts, that figure is likely on the lower end. If he continues to coach the Yellow Jackets to a winning record, however, he is likely to see his annual salary grow.