Tennessee releases M.O.U. details with Ohio State DC Greg Schiano

Tennessee released the full details of its Memorandum of Understanding with Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano on Monday, per an open records request by VolQuest.com.

The document was only signed by Schiano and now-suspended athletics director John Currie, lacking two key signatures to make the contract binding. While Schiano agreed to a six-year deal worth north of $27 million, neither Tennessee's Chief Financial Officer David Miller or Chancellor Dr. Beverly Davenport signed the document.

"Per your public records request, attached is a document signed by Greg Schiano and John Currie. That document was never signed by The University of Tennessee’s Chief Financial Officer, whose signature would have been required to make it legally binding on the University," said a school official.

Schiano, who made roughly $700,000 as Ohio State's coordinator in 2017, signed the document on Nov. 26 to become Tennessee's next head coach. But following unprecedented backlash, Tennessee walked away from the deal.

The Vols later concluded their search last Thursday, hiring Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt to a six-year deal worth around $3.8 million annually.

Pruitt's incentive opportunities and camp compensation are nearly identical to Schiano's contract. The buyout figures are a tad different though, as Pruitt has a starting buyout at $6 million that decreases by $1 million each year and Schiano's buyout was initially $5 million and drops by $1.5 million and then $1 million over the remainder of the deal.

Interestingly, Schiano's M.O.U. did not have a start date on the contract.

Pruitt's current deal places him in the Top 5 salaries in the SEC, only behind Nick Saban, Jimbo Fisher, Gus Malzahn and Dan Mullen. Kirby Smart is expected to leapfrog Pruitt this offseason following a contract extension.