Coach Deion “Prime” Sanders may not hold the title of winningest coach in the NCAA, but the University of Colorado clearly sees his value, securing him with a contract that speaks volumes. With just two years completed in his five-year contract, Coach Prime’s total potential earnings — bonuses and perks included — amount to a staggering $29.5 million.
Breaking down his earnings, Sanders rakes in approximately $5.7 million annually, according to The Roar. To put this in context, during his time as head coach at Jackson State, Sanders’ annual salary was around $300,000 — a fraction of his Colorado contract.
Performance Bonuses Pile Up
Sanders’ compensation includes a $500,000 base salary, with the rest coming from media obligations, promotional activities, and an array of performance-based incentives. For example, after Colorado’s recent win over Texas Tech, their seventh of the season, Sanders secured a notable bonus for reaching this milestone.
Becoming bowl-eligible with six wins earned him a $150,000 bonus, with each additional victory bringing in another $100,000.
With his sons Shedeur and Shilo Sanders are star players on the roster, with the quarterback in his own right is raking up big money as a college player with NIL deals, Coach Prime has even more on the line.
Winning the Big 12 title would earn Sanders an additional $150,000, while simply making it to the Big 12 Championship game would bring in $75,000.
Rewards for Individual Achievements
If Sanders were to snag the National Coach of the Year award, he’d pocket $150,000, with an additional $75,000 for being named Big 12 Coach of the Year. Meeting academic performance standards for the team — an APR (Academic Progress Rate) of 965 or higher — would also net him a $50,000 bonus.
With Colorado already bowl-eligible and ranked second in the Big 12 and No. 18 overall, Sanders is now earning $100,000 for each win beyond the sixth. With three games left on the schedule, Coach Prime has ample opportunity to stack up more bonuses. But if Colorado were to pull off a national championship, Sanders would see a jaw-dropping $750,000 addition to his season earnings, bolstering a net worth estimated at $45 million.
With three years remaining on his contract, Sanders could be seeking to exercise a renegotiation clause next year, allowing the school and his representation to rework the contract. However, all signs point to a mutually beneficial relationship between Sanders and the university. They (the school, the students, the alum and the fans) really like him and he works hard.
If Sanders decides to leave for another coaching job after this season, he’ll owe Colorado a $10 million buyout, a figure that drops to $8 million after 2025 and $5 million after 2026.
Should the university choose to terminate his contract early, they’d owe him 75% of his remaining salary — an expensive decision given the value Coach Prime brings to the program.
With a few years left to his current contract, Coach Prime is only getting started. His star power, on and off the field, has made Colorado’s investment look like a solid bet.
