Ex-Ohio State running backs coach Tony Alford gets pay raise with departure to Michigan
Tony Alford is receiving a pay raise following his departure to Michigan last week.
A longtime Ohio State running backs coach who was hired for the same role on the staff of the Buckeyes' archrival, Alford is due $850,000 as part of an annual base salary.
The terms of his employment agreement, which runs for three years, were provided Thursday to The Dispatch in response to a public records request.
Alford, who will also be the run game coordinator for the Wolverines, signed a memorandum of understanding with the school on March 13. It included a $35,000 signing bonus that is to be paid to him within 30 days of its signing.
In his ninth seasons as the Buckeyes’ running backs coach in 2023, Alford made $772,500 in base salary in addition to picking up a bonus worth $131,325 for a berth in the Cotton Bowl.
It is not clear if the 55-year-old assistant would have received an additional bump in salary had he remained at Ohio State for another season.
More on Tony Alford: Looking back at Tony Alford's tenure as Ohio State football's running backs coach
The terms of his contract expired on Jan. 31, and the school had not released updated compensation figures that were to be owed to him for this year.
The length of his deal at Michigan is longer than previous ones with the Buckeyes, who largely have signed their position coaches without offensive or defensive coordinator responsibilities to one or two-year contracts.
As the Wolverines’ running backs coach, Alford replaces Mike Hart, their all-time leading rusher who spent three seasons in the role until he was not retained by newly promoted coach Sherrone Moore earlier this month.
Hart made $550,000 last season, according to USA TODAY Sports’ annual survey of assistant coach salaries.
Speaking at a news conference earlier Thursday, Moore touted Alford’s experience as a factor in his hiring.
“His resume speaks for itself,” Moore said, “as a coach, as a mentor, as a recruiter.”
Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch and can be reached at jkaufman@dispatch.com.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Tony Alford, former Ohio State assistant, gets pay raise at Michigan
