8:47 PM
According to sources, Hugh Freeze will be one of the highest-paid non-Power 5 coaches in college football after Liberty reached a new deal with him.
The new contract is expected to be announced on Wednesday. According to sources, Freeze's total financial package would average more than $4 million annually over the length of the contract.
Freeze's new deal at Liberty will be comparable to what five different SEC coaches are making.
The Liberty Flames are 7-4 going into their regular-season finale Saturday against Army. He was the coach of Liberty a year ago, when the team went 10-1 and was ranked 17th in the final AP poll.
Liberty is one of two teams in NCAA history to win bowl games in their first two seasons at the highest level. The Flames beat Coastal Carolina in overtime in the Cure Bowl. It was Liberty's first win over a ranked opponent. Liberty beat Georgia Southern in the Cure Bowl.
Liberty has competed as an independent program in football since moving up to the highest level of college sports, but will move to Conference USA in the fall of 2023.
Freeze's salary increased to more than $3 million per year after he received an extension and raise a year ago.
The Ole Miss Rebels won 19 games in Freeze's two seasons as their coach, including their first Sugar Bowl victory since 1970. The school said it found a pattern of improper calls on Freeze's cellphone.
After leaving Ole Miss, Freeze was out of coaching for two years. He talked to Alabama, Tennessee, and Alabama about various assistant roles before taking the Liberty job.
