Oregon Ducks coach Mario Cristobal gets new six-year, $27.3 million contract

contract for Mario Cristobal was unanimously approved on Thursday by the executive and audit committee of the University of Oregon’s board of trustees.

With Oregon facing a budget deficit, both university president Michael Schill and athletic director Rob Mullens made it clear to the board that the contract would be honored using private funding.

“We believe strongly in Mario’s track record here at Oregon,” Mullens said. “And the foundation is in place for future success.”

Cristobal’s $2.7 million base salary for this season will increase to $4.3 million on Jan. 15. Cristobal’s current salary ranked 57th nationally and 11th in the Pac-12 ahead of only Oregon State’s Jonathan Smith ($2.4 million), according to the USA Today coaches salary database.

The new deal, which runs through Jan. 14, 2026, elevates Cristobal to a top-four salary in the Pac-12 and top-25 nationally. The base salary increases $100,000 each year and $150,000 in the final year.

In three seasons as Oregon’s coach, Cristobal has posted a 24-9 overall record (16-7 in conference games).

The defending Pac-12 champion Ducks (3-2) will play No. 13 USC in the conference championship game Friday night at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Monday night about the vacancy at Auburn, where the former Alabama assistant was rumored to be a candidate, Cristobal said: “I trust Phil Knight, I trust (athletic director) Rob Mullens, I trust our administration and I trust the people here at Oregon.”

Cristobal took a 10% pay cut during the pandemic but he will receive a $500,000 retention bonus for this season Jan. 14. His annual retention bonuses total $2.05 million through the end of the contract.

Either Auburn, which reportedly owes fired coach Gus Malzahn a $21.45 buyout of his contract, or Cristobal would have owed Oregon $8 million to lure him back to the SEC.

In the new contract, Cristobal’s buyout increases from $8 million to $9 million through Jan. 14, 2022, then decreases annually to $6.5 million, $4 million, $2 million and $1 million.

Mullens included a steep buyout in Cristobal’s original contract after he was promoted to head coach following Willie Taggart’s abrupt departure for Florida State.

Cristobal’s annual incentives include $300,000 for participating in a New Year’s Six Bowl game, $325,000 for reaching the College Football Playoff, $375,000 for advancing to the national championship game and $500,000 for winning a national championship.

If Oregon fires Cristobal, who signed a top-five recruiting class Wednesday, it would owe him 80% of his remaining base salary.

“We are just getting started, and I am fired up to relentlessly work and build upon the success so far,” Cristobal said. “We are privileged to call Oregon home, and we love the sense of family and community here at Oregon. We will continue to work tirelessly to elevate the Oregon football program to the next level, and we can’t wait to see the best fans in the nation back in Autzen Stadium next fall.”

Follow reporter Ryan Thorburn on Twitter @By_RyanThorburn. 

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