Former Tennessee Vols coach Butch Jones will make $35K as Alabama analyst

Former Tennessee coach Butch Jones will earn $35,000 annually in his role as an analyst for Alabama.

Alabama released Jones' salary on Thursday in response to a records request by USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee.

Jones was cleared to join Alabama's staff last week. His position is an off-the-field role.

"He's an intern, an analyst," Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban told reporters of Jones' role.

Tennessee owed Jones an $8.26 million buyout when it fired him on Nov. 12. The buyout is due in monthly installments throughout the duration of his contract, which was set to expire on Feb. 28, 2021. His Tennessee contract required him to try to find a new job to mitigate the buyout. Jones' salary at Alabama will be a drop in the bucket, but it fulfills his contractual duty.

Alabama has been a spot where fired head coaches can rejuvenate their career as analysts for Saban.

Southern California fired Steve Sarkisian amid the 2015 season for alcohol-related issues. Sarkisian later acknowledged he was an alcoholic.

Saban hired Sarkisian as an offensive analyst in 2016 and promoted him to offensive coordinator after Lane Kiffin left to become the coach at Florida Atlantic. Sarkisian is now the Atlanta Falcons' offensive coordinator.

Saban also hired Mike Locksley as an offensive analyst in 2016. Locksley had a 3-31 record in stints as New Mexico's coach and as the interim coach at Maryland. Locksley is now Saban's offensive coordinator.

Jones has a career record of 84-54, including a 34-27 mark in five seasons at Tennessee.