Jon Budmayr now works as Iowa football’s ‘senior special assistant to the head coach’

IOWA CITY — Jon Budmayr has a new title in the Iowa football building.

Previously an offensive analyst, Budmayr now is the “senior special assistant to the head coach,” according to his contract agreement signed on Dec. 5 and obtained by The Gazette via public records request.

He makes $27,083 per month in the newly-created role, which adds up to about $325,000 annually — a salary on par with some assistant coaches on Iowa’s staff.

Iowa tight ends coach Abdul Hodge, in comparison, makes $275,000 before postseason bonuses. Hodge was in his first season on Iowa’s staff in 2022.

Running backs coach Ladell Betts’ annual salary is $380,000 before postseason bonuses in his second year on staff.

The senior special assistant role is temporary, with an end date of “no later than” Jan. 31, 2024. It does not include the postseason bonuses that Iowa’s on-field assistant coaches have.

Budmayr first joined the Iowa staff last March in a volunteer position before assuming a role as a paid analyst before the start of the 2022 season.

While his title and pay level have changed significantly, the job descriptions are remarkably similar.

The initial volunteer role included self scouting, opponent scouting, depth chart projections and “other analytics as needed by head coach and (assistant) coaches,” which bare close resemblance to the responsibilities of the senior special assistant to the head coach.

NCAA rules limit how many on-field assistant coaches a team can have and therefore prevents Budmayr from taking on a larger role. The contract specifically states off-campus recruiting and coaching activities are not allowed.

Budmayr was the Colorado State offensive coordinator in 2021 and the Wisconsin quarterbacks coach from 2018-20.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com