LAWRENCE — Following the end of Kansas football’s 2024 regular season, there’s already been some significant turnover in the coaching staff.
KU named Jim Zebrowski as its new offensive coordinator, as it’s been reported this past season’s offensive coordinator/assistant head coach Jeff Grimes has decided to leave for a job at Wisconsin. KU also named D.K. McDonald as its new defensive coordinator, following Brian Borland’s announcement that he is retiring. It’s both a moment of continuity, from a coaching perspective, and one that highlights how Jayhawks head coach Lance Leipold and the program chose to approach this situation from a financial perspective.
Here’s more on what Zebrowski and McDonald will be making in their new roles:
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Jim Zebrowski, offensive coordinator
Zebrowski, the co-offensive coordinator this past season, has been an assistant coach for Leipold for years. They’ve worked together not just at Kansas, but elsewhere in Division I at Buffalo and even in Division III at Wisconsin-Whitewater. Zebrowski works with the quarterbacks for the Jayhawks, and is a popular pick.
Zebrowski has a guaranteed, three-year deal that runs through the end of the 2027 season. His base salary starts at $850,000 in the first year, and raises to $875,000 and $900,000 over the next two. His incentives include $75,000 for playing in the Big 12 Conference championship game, and extend much further from there.
D.K. McDonald, defensive coordinator
McDonald is a newer face to the Kansas coaching staff, having only joined ahead of the 2024 season and working as the co-defensive coordinator/cornerbacks coach. However, he brought both experience from both the college and professional ranks. For example, he’s worked as an assistant coach at Iowa State in the Big 12 in college and in the NFL as an assistant coach for the Philadelphia Eagles.
McDonald is also on a three-year deal that is guaranteed and runs through the end of the 2027 season. His base salary starts at $750,000 in the first year, and raises to $800,000 and $850,000 over the next two. His incentives also touch on a number of factors, including $75,000 for participating in the Big 12 title game.
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas for 2022. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
