The Oregon athletic department has made the hiring of new defensive coordinator Andy Avalos official. Friday morning, the university released the contract signed by the new coach and Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens on Thursday, February 28th.

According to the documents released by the university , Avalos signed a contract this week that is set to pay him $2.45 million over the next three seasons. Avalos will make $765,000 in 2019, $815,000 in 2020 and $865,000 in 2021. Like the other Oregon assistants on Oregon's staff, Avalos is eligible for annual performance benefits up to a maximum of $125,000 if the Ducks win the CFP Title. The new coach is also eligible for a separate $5,000 academic performance incentive. Additionally, Avalos will receiver other perks like football tickets, courtesy car, and apparel.

If Avalos is fired by the university before his contract expired, he will be guaranteed 70% of the remaining value on the contract. If Mario Cristobal voluntarily leaves (i.e. takes another job) Avalos will be owed 70% of his remaining salary for 12 months or until the end of the contract, whichever comes sooner.

If Avalos leaves Oregon for another position, he will owe Oregon 20% of the guaranteed salary of his contract. The buyout is offset if Avalos leaves Oregon to take a position as an FBS level head coach.

Boise State had just recently approved a two year extension to Avalos contract where he would be earning $350,000 for the 2019 and 2020 seasons according to documents obtained by the Idaho Statesman. Outgoing defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt was making $1.7 million a season through 2022 before signing a one-time $2.5 million buyout in the past few weeks with Oregon. Joe Salave'a is the second highest paid defensive assistant, set to earn $650,000 for the 2019 season. Salave'a is followed in pay by Keith Heyward ($450,000), Donte Williams ($350,000) and Ken Wilson ($350,000).

According to Avalos' bio on Boise State's website,

Avalos has played a critical role in the Broncos' defense since returning to Boise State, a unit that ranked 10th nationally in sacks (3.0 per game) and 20th nationally in turnovers forced (24) this past season. Included in the turnover count were 17 fumble recoveries, the most in the country. Boise State also scored four defensive touchdowns in 2018, tied for the sixth most in the country.



Boise State ranked 22nd nationally in total defense in 2017, allowing 332.6 yards per game. The Broncos also boasted the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year in Leighton Vander Esch, who declared early for the National Football League Draft and was ultimately selected in the first round at No. 19 overall by the Dallas Cowboys. Vander Esch went on to earn second-team All-Pro honors and an invitation to the Pro Bowl in his rookie season.

The Ducks will begin spring practice in less than two weeks and with the hiring of Avalos, the Oregon staff for 2019 will be set. Oregon had to replace linebackers coach Cort Dennison who left to become defensive coordinator at Louisville, wide receivers coach Michael Johnson who left for the same job at Mississippi State and Jim Leavitt who parted ways with the Ducks two weeks ago. Oregon hired Ken Wilson from Washington State to replace Dennison, Jovon Bouknight from Texas Tech to replace Johnson and now is adding Andy Avalos to replace Leavitt as both linebacker coach and defensive coordinator.

It's not yet clear what titles will be for the defensive coaching staff. For the 2018 season, Jim Leavitt had the defensive coordinator title while Joe Salave'a and Keith heyward both shared a co-defensive coordinator title. At the time of Leavitt's departure from Oregon, it was widely reported that Heyward was a prime candidate to take over for Leavitt.