Michigan defensive line coach Lou Esposito, newly appointed to head coach Sherrone Moore’s team, will receive a base salary of $1 million over a two-year period.
As per his contract, obtained through an open-records request by The Detroit News, Esposito’s base pay will be $500,000 annually for the next two years. His contract, signed on March 29, was formalized the same day his hiring was announced. Alongside his salary, he will be granted a signing bonus of $786,000 and a relocation stipend of $25,000 within his initial month.
Esposito stepped into the role following the resignation of Greg Scruggs on March 21, which occurred after an arrest in Ann Arbor for operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Previously, Esposito served at Memphis and Western Michigan, where he held positions ranging from co-defensive coordinator to defensive line coach.
The contract outlines stipulations for Esposito’s resignation, indicating he must reimburse the signing bonus if he leaves before Jan. 1, 2025. Furthermore, there are buyout clauses: $500,000 if he departs Michigan before the conclusion of the 2024 season, and $250,000 thereafter. However, there is no buyout if he exits after 2024 to assume a role as head coach or defensive coordinator at a Division I program or in the NFL.