Georgia Tech

More details of Brent Key’s contract

Key will receive $6.5 million in base pay in addition to an extra $2 million for his assistant coaches and support staff.
Georgia Tech coach Brent Key signed a contract extension on Wednesday that raises his base annual pay to $6.5 million. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)
Georgia Tech coach Brent Key signed a contract extension on Wednesday that raises his base annual pay to $6.5 million. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)
57 minutes ago

Georgia Tech football coach Brent Key signed a contract extension Wednesday and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has obtained further details of that contract.

Key’s new annual base compensation is $6.5 million. The 47-year-old Tech alumnus will also receive a $50,000 bonus for each win over an opponent from a Power 4 nonconference opponent, a $50,000 bonus for beating a ranked (Associated Press Top 25 or College Football Playoff ranking) opponent in the regular season and for finishing the regular season in the College Football Playoff rankings ($50,000 for being in the top 25, $75,000 for being in the top 20 or $100,000 for being in the top 15).

Tech also gave Key $2 million more to dole out to his assistant coaching and support staff.

If the Yellow Jackets have an eight-win season, Key will receive a one-year extension and $250,000 compensation increase. A nine-win season earns Key a one-year extension and $400,000 compensation increase, and a 10-win season earns Key a two-year extension and $750,000 compensation increase.

An ACC championship game by the Jackets would net Key a $100,000 bonus (up from $50,000) and an ACC title would give Key a $200,000 bonus (up from $100,000).

Should Tech terminate the current contract with Key, it would owe the former Tech offensive lineman 75% of unpaid compensation through the remaining term, including any earned automatic extensions and escalators.

If Key terminates the contract before July 1, he would owe Tech $10 million. That figure drops to $8 million through December of 2026, $6 million through December of 2027, $5 million through December of 2028, $3 million through December of 2029 and $2 million through December of 2030.

Under Key’s leadership, Tech has gone 27-19 (a record that includes a 4-4 stretch to end the 2022 season when Key was the program’s interim coach). The Jackets, currently No. 22 in the College Football Playoff rankings, started the 2025 season 8-0 and finished 9-3.

Tech will find out its bowl destination and opponent Sunday.

About the Author

Chad Bishop is a Georgia Tech sports reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

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