On Monday, University of Cincinnati head football coach Butch Jones visited the CU campus to discuss the Buffs’ head coaching vacancy since Jon Embree’s firing in late November.
According to the Colorado Daily, CU has offered Jones a five-year contract of more than $2.5 million per year to coach for CU. Jones’ salary at Cincinnati was $1.57 million this past season, and he has been offered $1.6 million for next season if he stays on staff with the Bearcats. Embree’s contract with CU started at $725,000 plus incentives.
(CU Independent illustration/Josh Shettler)
Jones has already spoken with two other schools about a head coaching position for next season, including Purdue University, but CU Athletic Director Mike Bohn told the media that Monday had been “a productive day.”
During his visit, Jones took a tour of the campus before meeting with Bohn, CU President Bruce Benson, Chancellor Phil DiStefano and other members of CU’s athletic department staff in the Folsom Stadium suites. The discussion centered around the future of the football program, including expansions to the Dal Ward Athletic Center and the potential building of an indoor practice facility that would cost between $175 and $220 million.
Jones then toured the Buffs’ athletic facilities and met with four CU players reported to be junior offensive lineman David Bakhtiari, wide receivers junior Paul Richardson and sophomore Tyler McCulloch, and freshman quarterback Shane Dillon.
Throughout his three seasons at Cincinnati, Jones has gone 23-14. At his previous head coaching job at Central Michigan University, Jones was 27-13 over three seasons.
Jones’ agent Trace Armstrong told the media he will make a public decision about his coaching future by Tuesday evening. Check back with the CU Independent for more updates.
Contact CU Independent Sports Editor Caryn Maconi at Caryn.maconi@colorado.edu.
