Phil Longo’s contract with the Sam Houston Bearkats runs through August 2029, but the first-year head coach faces significant pressure after an 0-5 start that has raised questions about his future with the program.
What Is Phil Longo’s Buyout at Sam Houston?
Longo’s specific buyout terms have not been publicly disclosed in Sam Houston’s contract documents. Most Group of Five coaching contracts typically guarantee between 50% and 100% of the remaining contract value if terminated without cause, with 75% being common at programs similar to Sam Houston.
With Longo’s deal running through August 2029, any buyout would represent what Sam Houston owes him if they fire him before that date. Like most coaching contracts, the buyout would likely include mitigation requirements, meaning Longo would need to seek other employment, with any new income potentially offsetting what Sam Houston owes.
How Much Does Longo Make at Sam Houston?
According to the official agreement signed on March 11, 2025, Longo currently earns $700,000 in base salary.
His deal includes automatic raises of $25,000 annually, meaning he’ll make $725,000 in 2026 and eventually $775,000 by the 2028-29 season if he completes the full term.
The 57-year-old coach also has access to substantial performance incentives. He can earn up to $225,000 per year in academic and on-field bonuses, plus another $25,000 for participating in a Sam Houston-produced television show.
That puts his maximum annual compensation at roughly $950,000 when bonuses are included. His salary represents a 12% increase over that of predecessor K.C. Keeler, who earned $625,000 in total pay during his final season.
Longo’s Sam Houston salary marks a significant pay cut from his Wisconsin days. The Badgers fired him as offensive coordinator in November 2024 while paying him $1.25 million annually. His new contract reduces Wisconsin’s financial obligation to $675,000 through March 2026.
Why the Early Pressure on Longo?
The Bearkats started 2025 with five consecutive losses: 41-24 to Western Kentucky, 38-21 to UNLV, 37-20 to Hawaii, 55-0 to No. 9 Texas, and 37-10 to New Mexico State.
According to PFSN’s Offensive Impact ratings, Sam Houston’s offense averages just 160.3 yards per game, ranking 120th nationally. The defense allows 442.3 yards per game and 42.75 points, placing them 134th in total defense per PFSN’s Defensive Impact metrics.
Both marks represent declines from the 10-3 bowl-winning team Keeler left behind in 2024.
The struggles come from massive roster turnover. Longo brought in 55 new scholarship players and replaced every defensive starter from last season, creating chemistry issues throughout the lineup. Quarterback instability has been particularly damaging, with three different players seeing action and none finding consistency.
Playing home games at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston, 70 miles from campus, hasn’t helped either. The temporary arrangement exists while Bowers Stadium undergoes renovations, eliminating any traditional home-field advantage during this crucial transition year.
PFSN’s Football Playoff Meter projects more struggles ahead, forecasting just 3.65 wins with only a 4.6% chance to reach the Conference USA championship game.
The pressure intensifies because Sam Houston invested significant resources in a coordinator renowned for developing NFL quarterbacks like Drake Maye and Sam Howell.
Making that offensive expertise work as a head coach while building an FBS program has proven much harder than expected, testing both the financial commitment and Longo’s reputation.
