Tennessee coach Butch Jones finds himself on one of the hottest seats in the country.

But firing Jones, who is under contract through Feb. 28, 2021, could be costly for Tennessee. Buyout payments for Jones and his coaching staff could total nearly $14 million depending on when the coaches found new jobs.

An analysis of Jones’ contract indicates he would be owed up to $8.48 million if he were fired Sunday.

More:Vols football coach Butch Jones: Outside noise 'all part of the territory'

Jones’ staff likely would remain in place for the remainder of the season if he were dismissed midseason. But a new coach probably would want to assemble his own staff during the offseason.

If Jones’ nine assistants were let go at the end of the calendar year, UT would owe each buyout money ranging from more than $300,000 to more than $1.3 million.

In sum, dismissing Jones on Sunday and letting the assistants go at the end of the calendar year would add up to about $13.89 million, according to a USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee analysis of the coaching staff’s contracts.

The buyout for Jones and his assistants would be paid out in monthly installments over the remaining term of their agreements.

However, the contracts for Jones and his assistants also include language that requires each coach to try to reduce the buyout by making a reasonable effort to obtain another comparable job. If the coach finds a new job, the buyout would be offset by his new salary.

Why Jones became more expensive to fire

Chatter about Jones’ job security was present before the season began. Hot-seat dialogue reached a fever pitch after the Vols’ 41-0 loss to Georgia on Sept. 30, marking UT’s most lopsided loss in the history of Neyland Stadium.

But Jones emerged from the bye week and continues in his fifth season as the Vols’ coach.

The Vols (4-6, 0-6 SEC) lost 50-17 at Missouri on Saturday adding to more speculation about his future.

More:What's Tennessee Vols' cost of not firing Butch Jones?

Arguments can be made for and against Jones.

There’s no debating he has the program in a better position than he found it, but he hasn’t restored the Vols to the level of success they experienced in the 1990s.

When Jones received a raise in December 2015, the university’s cost to buy out Jones also increased by $500,000 per year remaining on his contract.

Jones’ contract states that the university owes him $2.5 million for each year remaining on his contract — three full years remain — plus the prorated portion of that $2.5 million for any partial year.

How much Jones' staff would cost to fire

Jones’ assistants make annual salaries ranging from $280,000 (wide receivers coach Kevin Beard) to $1.15 million (defensive coordinator Bob Shoop).

Each assistant is under contract through next season, with agreements that expire on Feb. 28, 2019.

Adams:Butch Jones No. 1 on hot seat, less popular than Derek Dooley

The buyout language in each assistant’s contract calls for him to be paid the monthly portion of his annual compensation times the number of months remaining on his contract.

If UT were to make a coaching change, the key factor in how much the university would actually owe would depend on how long Jones and any assistants who were not retained remained unemployed.

Jones has never been fired during his career.