Tech, Johnson near new deal

Georgia Tech and coach Paul Johnson are close to reaching an agreement on a renegotiated contract, according to athletics director Dan Radakovich.

“We’re happy and I’m pretty sure that they’re happy,” Radakovich said.

Radakovich sought to amend Johnson’s original contract, signed last year for seven years and an annual minimum of about $1.6 million, after the Jackets finished a successful first season under his leadership.

Radakovich said that the school hopes to make an announcement by the end of the week. Neither Radakovich nor Johnson’s agent, Jack Reale, offered details of the restructured deal.

Tech went 9-3, earned a share of the ACC Coastal Division title and beat Georgia for the first time in eight seasons. Johnson was also named ACC coach of the year.

Johnson’s original contract puts him in the middle among ACC coaches salaries. Florida State’s Bobby Bowden makes $2.4 million a year. Frank Beamer at Virginia Tech and Butch Davis at North Carolina reportedly make $2.1 million and Virginia’s Al Groh and Maryland’s Ralph Friedgen are reportedly just under $2 million.

Duke’s David Cutcliffe’s and N.C. State’s Tom O’Brien salaries are a reported $1.5 million and $1.1 million, respectively.