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LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda is set to be a very rich man.
After rumors of Aranda going to Texas A&M to take the same position, reports now say that Aranda is sticking with LSU for a coordinator-record $2.5 million a year.
Just like the A&M coaching search zeroed in on one guy as its target in Jimbo Fisher, every indication I’ve received A&M has been zeroed in on one guy at defensive coordinator since early on: LSU’s Dave Aranda. I expect this to happen.
— Brent Zwerneman (@BrentZwerneman) January 3, 2018
A&M’s second run at #LSU DC Dave Aranda is a hard one. And when I mean hard, I mean green and lots of it.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) January 3, 2018
It certainly seems like LSU was down to one last offer, and knocked it out of the park.
SOURCE: Dave Aranda's new deal with #LSU is for four years and will average around $2.5 million per.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) January 4, 2018
As noted, it’s a record contract for a coordinator. It’s also more than the majority of head coaches make.
#LSU DC Dave Aranda's new average salary ($2.5M) is at least more than 80 of the 130 FBS head coaches in America.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) January 4, 2018
It is also $800,000 (47%) more than the next highest paid assistant from this past year.
While it’s a staggering amount of money, Aranda’s reputation developed at Wisconsin and then LSU has certainly made him deserving. The Tigers finished 12th in the NCAA in total defense this season, after a fifth-place finish last season.