FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas receivers coach Michael Smith signed a new contract earlier this month that will increase his pay by 45 percent to $400,000 per year.
Smith, who was the only coach on the Razorbacks' staff that did not receive a salary increase last year, will be the third-highest paid Arkansas assistant and highest-paid non-coordinator. Like most university employees, he will work on a one-year contract that expires in June 2017.
Arkansas coach Bret Bielema said Smith received a pay raise after LSU inquired about hiring the New Orleans native following the season. After reports had linked his name to LSU, Smith signed the contract Feb. 10 and it was finalized with the signature of UA system president Donald Bobbitt last Thursday.
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"It's always nice to be recognized and presented new opportunities, but I couldn't be more excited for my family and I to stay at the University of Arkansas," Smith wrote Feb. 12. "I can't thank Coach Bielema and (athletics director) Jeff Long enough for the opportunity to become a Razorback three years ago and the opportunity to be a Razorback now."
In addition to a pay raise, Smith signed a no-compete clause that prevents him from taking a non-head coaching or coordinator job at another SEC school. Smith and tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. were the only remaining assistants without the clause.
Bielema indicated Monday that Lunney had also agreed to a no-compete agreement this off-season. Lunney, linebackers coach Vernon Hargreaves and defensive line coach Rory Segrest have been offered new contracts, Bielema said, but those terms are not yet available.
As part of an an agreement signed last year, defensive coordinator Robb Smith will receive a $50,000 pay raise to $800,000 next year.
Offensive coordinator Dan Enos signed a contract worth $700,000 earlier this month. Enos was originally signed for $550,000 per year.
New position coaches Paul Rhoads (secondary) and Reggie Mitchell (running backs) are making the same amount as their predecessors, Clay Jennings and Jemal Singleton. New offensive line coach Kurt Anderson was hired for $155,000 per year less than his predecessor, Sam Pittman.
Before amended salaries for Lunney, Segrest and Hargreaves are calculated, the Razorbacks will spend $170,000 more for assistants in 2016 than last season.
"Jeff (Long) gave me a certain amount of money before we even hit January - back before December he gave me a large chunk of change that I could use to (give) amongst my staff," Bielema said.