With a contract signed Jan. 29, Mark Scott is officially back as West Virginia’s defense/special teams assistant coach, and he returns to the staff for his second season at the same salary he made last season, which was his first as a full-time college coach. Fair, even though people think he’s extraordinarily bright and on his way to big things sooner rather than later.

So with that number in front of us, I can tell you what the nine assistants will make for the 2016 and why, perhaps only in this corner or the Web, that matters.

2015 salaries

• Ron Crook, offensive line – $300,000
• JaJuan Seider, running backs – $300,000
• Lonnie Galloway, receivers – $350,000
• Bruce Tall, defensive line –  $250,000
• Damon Cogdell, defensive line – $200,000
• Tony Gibson, linebackers/defensive coordinator – $650,000
• Brian Mitchell, cornerbacks – $275,000
• Joe DeForest, safeties/special teams coordinator – $375,000
• Mark Scott, defense and special teams – $150,000

• Sum: $2,850000

2016 salaries

• Joe Wickline, offensive coordinator – $425,000
• Ron Crook, offensive line – $300,000
• JaJuan Seider, running backs – $300,000
• Lonnie Galloway, receivers – $350,000
• Bruce Tall, defensive line –  $250,000
• Tony Gibson, linebackers/defensive coordinator – $750,000
• Brian Mitchell, cornerbacks – $275,000
• Matt Caponi, safeties – $200,000
• Mark Scott, defense and special teams – $150,000

• Sum: $3,000,000

The 2015 figure, by the way, was the highest ever paid to a pool of assistants. The 2016 figure is, of course, larger, and larger by a specific number.

How much larger? Well, I could say $150,000, but that’s not a complete answer. Let’s press pause.

Remember in July when WVU gave a few assistants a seemingly weird round of raises? There was a contractual explanation, one Dana Holgorsen was right to pursue and Shane Lyons was happy to grant.

The obligation has already been been met for 2016. The assistants will make 4.982456140350877 percent (Read: 5 percent) more than they did last season.

And if you’re curious, here’s what WVU owes any and all coaches for 2017:

2017 commitments

• Dana Holgorsen, head coach – $2.9 million
• Joe Wickline, offensive coordinator, $450,000
• Tony Gibson, linebackers/defensive coordinator – $700,000

• Sum: $4,050,000