Rhett Lashlee calls SMU 'a destination job' after extension, win over Miami

It’s been a big week for the SMU program. The Mustangs signed head coach Rhett Lashlee to a new contract extension. Then, SMU hosted and upset an AP Top 10 Miami team. It was, for SMU, their first win against an AP Top 10 team since 1974.

It was a party in Dallas after the game. Meanwhile, for Lashlee, it was proof of why he took the extension at SMU instead of putting his hat in what should be a very busy coaching carousel. He already has a destination job where he thinks he can win.

“SMU is a destination job,” Rhett Lashlee said. “You know, SMU chose us first. That matters to us. It’s where we want to be.”

Lashlee got to SMU in 2022. At the time, SMU hadn’t had one double-digit win season since 1985. In that same time, they had 11 seasons with two or fewer wins. The Mustangs also hadn’t won a conference title since 1984, with many of the program’s issues stemming from the death penalty it suffered in 1987 and 1988. Now in his fourth season with the program, Lashlee has added a conference title, has two double-digit win seasons, and went to the College Football Playoff. His record sits at an impressive 35-15.

Perhaps more important for Lashlee, it shows he and his staff are bought in at SMU. That allows the team around him that he’s built and is building for the future to also be entirely bought into the program.

“If we’re going in a month, starting talking to these kids, if I’m gonna ask Kevin Jennings to not go play for whoever is going to try and take him, and all these other kids to not leave and to buy into our vision,” Lashlee said. “Well, I’ve got to do the same thing. Our staff has to do the same thing. That doesn’t mean that other guys aren’t going to get opportunities to take, but in general, our staff’s happy here. If we’re going to ask this recruiting class that’s a Top 25 recruiting class committed, to buy into the vision of what we are trying to build and get back to the national championship level of program we want to be, then we’ve got to do the same thing as a staff. Same thing with the kids that we’re recruiting.”

It’s unclear what the exact number is on the extension for Rhett Lashlee. However, it’s been reported that it will make him among the 10 highest paid coaches in all of college football.

“We’re humbled that Jay Hartzell, Damon, and our board have the confidence in us to continue what we’re building,” Lashlee said. “We’re excited that that’s out there and we can continue to go to work.”