Tech coach Johnson signs contract extension

Georgia Tech football coach Paul Johnson signed a one-year contract extension Friday that ties him to Tech through 2016.

Johnson has led the No. 7 Yellow Jackets to a 10-1 record this season and a spot in the ACC championship game in Tampa on Dec. 5. He has a 19-5 record in less than two seasons at Tech.

Neither Johnson nor athletics director Dan Radakovich was available for comment. The Yellow Jackets are off this week and will host rival Georgia at 8 p.m. Nov. 28.

“It goes without saying how much we value what Paul Johnson continues to do for the Georgia Tech program and the energy he has created within the Yellow Jacket family,” Radakovich said in a statement given to the media. “We remain committed to Paul in every way, and we foresee a long-term relationship with much continued success in the coming years.”

The only change between the contract that was renegotiated in January and the one agreed to Friday is the length. Johnson's annual base salary ($325,000) and compensation for radio and TV (starting at $1.3 million, with 3 percent increases each year), apparel ($150,000 each year) and speaking appearances ($525,000 each year) remained the same.

Two weeks ago, Radakovich said that Tech would do everything it could to keep Johnson. At the time, there were Internet rumors that Johnson would be a candidate at Notre Dame, should it fire coach Charlie Weis.

Johnson has repeatedly said that he has no interest in leaving Tech. When he accepted the job, he said he told his daughter that at the very least they would be there until she graduates high school. He also said he enjoys living in Atlanta, trusts the administration at Tech and thinks he can win a championship.

When Johnson was hired, he signed a seven-year contract worth $1.6 million a year. After Johnson led the Jackets to a 9-4 record last season, Radakovich renegotiated the contract in January, adding a year and increasing Johnson's base salary to $2.3 million annually. His contract is paid for by Tech's athletic association. No funds from the state are used.

The contract signed in January has a $1 million buyout clause if Johnson were to leave after this season. The buyout drops to $750,000 in subsequent years. Should Tech terminate Johnson, it would owe him the remaining salary, including radio/TV, apparel and speaking compensation for the length of the contract.

Johnson has a career record of 126-44 in 13 seasons. He is a finalist for the Bear Bryant National Coach of the Year Award and the George Munger National Coach of the Year Award.

Johnson's salary year by year

2010 -- $2,300,000

2011 -- $2,369,000

2012 -- $2,440,700

2013 -- $2,513,000

• 2014 -- $2,588,000

2015 -- $2,667,000

2016 -- $2,717,000