Texas A&M Football: 5 reasons Kevin Sumlin should be on the hot seat

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Sep 24, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies head coach Kevin Sumlin on the sidelines during the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at AT&T Stadium. Texas A&M won 45-24. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

4. High-priced coordinators

As illustrated in the previous point, most high-profile programs need high-profile coordinators. When you look across the SEC, most of the top programs have top-notch coordinators, sometimes two of them.

So, one can’t fault Sumlin for working hard to attract two big-name coordinators. However, the pressure to perform at a high level grows significantly with a pair of high-priced coordinators.

While Todd Orlando and Tim Beck will receive healthy raises at Texas ($1.09 million and $790,000 annually, respectively), Texas A&M’s defensive coordinator John Chavis is one of the highest paid assistant coaches in college football with his 2017 salary slated at $1.6 million. Texas A&M offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone will earn a base salary of $800,000 in 2017. Mazzone left UCLA and received a pay bump to join the Aggies staff.

Chavis has fulfilled his end of the deal in many respects. The Aggies experienced a significant improvement in his first season, allowing 22 points per game and just 166 passing yards per game (Chavis has always been known for developing talent in the secondary).

Meanwhile, Mazzone only has one year with the school, so he really hasn’t been given a fair chance to implement his offense. That said, he needs better results in year two.