Matt Drinkall has stepped in as the 30th head football coach at Central Michigan University. He brings along nearly two decades of coaching experience. Before he took the reins at CMU, he was the offensive line coach and co-offensive coordinator at Army. Under him, Army went on to make an 11-1 record and win the American Athletic Conference championship.
Now, as he takes on a new role, things are set to change for CMU, and one of the big changes is his contract.
Matt Drinkall Salary & Contract in 2025
CMU didn’t just bring Drinkall in for his expertise. They sure did put their money where their mouth is. Matt Drinkall currently has a five-year contract with $640,000 annually. He was also given a $20,000 signing bonus.
“And for him, 20 years old, to navigate that and handle all of that like a true professional and a man– I knew everything I needed to know about Dillon Doyle right there ” – CMU head coach Matt Drinkall on adding @dillondoyle_ to his staff at @CMU_Football
It was awesome to… pic.twitter.com/yJzeSogfr7
— Matt Randazzo (@MattRandazzo) March 20, 2025
That alone places him ahead of Eastern Michigan’s Chris Creighton but slightly behind Western Michigan’s Lance Taylor. To break it down, Drinkall’s base salary sits at $415,000. It also has an additional $175,000 in incentives and an annual $50,000 retention bonus. His signing bonus is just the cherry on top. This is a big change from the Army.
At Army West Point, he earned $205,000 in 2024, excluding housing benefits. His maximum bonus pay was $40,000. Bringing Matt Drinkall to CMU is a big move, but Athletic Director Amy Folan seems to have no doubts about it.
“I think he checked all the boxes,” Folan said in the press conference after his appointment. “We sat down to interview with him…and we ended up talking for about five hours. He just kind of had the fit, and I just lost track of time.” That confidence might just be the reason for the big paycheck that’s backing it.
Drinkall’s Net Worth
While there is no official number on Drinkall’s total net worth, his contract suggests that he is doing okay. His earnings are only going up with his $640,000 annual salary and bonuses. Additionally, based on his time in the Army, it is safe to say he is not doing all that badly.
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Matt Drinkall also has a methodical vision for CMU. As Drinkall puts it, “We’ll be 85 to 89 percent gun-based with some under-center elements as a package.” He also adds, “It’ll be a power run-heavy attack with the quarterback run game options and perimeter fast-break plays.” That kind of philosophy is bound to grow the paycheck.
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