UT Board of Regents poised to approve new 11-year, $38.8 million contract for Chris Del Conte
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas Longhorns athletic director Chris Del Conte is sticking around the 40 Acres a little longer, and with a lot more money in his pocket.
Del Conte is set to receive a contract extension through 2036 that includes an 18.4% raise, according to documents in the UT System Board of Regents agenda packet. The contract is pending board approval during its regular meeting Aug. 20-21.
By the final year of his contract, he’ll make $4.25 million. The new contract runs 11 years from 2026-2036, totaling $38.8 million in guaranteed annual salary to keep him as one of the highest paid athletic directors in the country. His current contract was set to expire in 2030.
Here’s the breakdown of his current contract with the one set for approval:
| Year | Annual salary under current contract | Annual salary under pending contract |
| 2024 | $2.45 million | N/A |
| 2025 | $2.525 million | N/A |
| 2026 | $2.6 million | $2.9 million |
| 2027 | $2.68 million | $3 million |
| 2028 | $2.85 million | $3.1 million |
| 2029 | $3 million | $3.2 million |
| 2030 | $3.15 million | $3.35 million |
| 2031 | N/A | $3.5 million |
| 2032 | N/A | $3.65 million |
| 2033 | N/A | $3.8 million |
| 2034 | N/A | $3.95 million |
| 2035 | N/A | $4.1 million |
| 2036 | N/A | $4.25 million |
His potential performance incentive bonuses, starting at $225,000 in 2024 to $450,000 in 2030, won’t change as a result of the contract extension. In 2031, his incentive bonuses start at $475,000, and by 2036, Del Conte could add up to $600,000 to his paycheck if he hits all of them.
He still has an option of two dealer cars or an annual $7,500 stipend for a car, and he’ll keep the same club memberships to the University of Texas Club, UT Golf Club and the Headliners Club of Austin.
If approved, his new contract will be effective from Aug. 1 and expire Aug. 31, 2036.
Del Conte was hired by Texas in 2017 after a 9-year stint with TCU. During Del Conte’s tenure at Texas, the Longhorns have won 15 national championships and all four of its Directors’ Cups. Texas moved to the Southeastern Conference in 2024 and won eight conference titles in its first year. The Longhorns earned 13 top-10 national finishes, and 10 top-5 finishes, across the program in 2024-2025.
