Highest Paid College Football Coaches in the Country (Part 2)
G'day tribe. Yesterday I started part one of the highest paid football coaches in the NCAA. Let's take a look at the final part and the top five highest paid coaches!
5. Mel Tucker: $9.5 million (Michigan State)
After his hiring in 2020, Tucker was disappointing in his first season after going only 2-5 at the helm of the Spartans. After an 11-win season including a triumph in the Peach Bowl in late 2021, Tucker earned a 10-year contract extension worth $9.5 million per year.
Just under $6 million is in base salary and the rest is additional compensation, boosting his average salary into the top five.
4. Brian Kelly: $9.5 million (LSU)
Kelly insisted it would take $250 million for him to leave Notre Dame, but then bolted days later for far less than that. He’s got a great resume with a winning percentage of 72%, fourth among active coaches. Leaving for another school has been the norm for Kelly, who also departed Cincinnati for Notre Dame.
While initial reports had Kelly’s salary at $100 million over 10 years, the official deal was for $95 million during the period. The Tigers are confident that Kelly, who went 113-40 at Notre Dame, can bring a title to LSU. If so, look for him to easily surpass $10 million in annual salary.
Brian Kelly was making about 700k in 2012 at Notre Dame. 2022, he’ll make 9.5 million at LSU.
2012, Notre Dame players had a salary of $0. 2022, LSU players are scheduled to have a $0 salary. — profloumoore (@loumoore12) December 1, 2021
3. Nick Saban: $9.75 million (Alabama)
Arguably the best college football coach of all time, it’s not a surprise that he’s among the highest paid. He’s won six national championships and led the Crimson Tide to an incredible 183-25 record after 208 games.
Saban received numerous bonuses for the SEC Championship Game appearance, for winning the SEC Championship, and for earning a trip to the College Football Semifinal games. It won’t be surprising if Saban tops at over $10 million in salary soon.
Alabama Athletics Budget: $180 Million Nick Saban salary: $9 Million JSU entire Athletic Budget: $8 Million Imaginary JSU Player NIL salary: $1 Million Deion Sanders’ JSU Salary: $300K
Nick Saban is unwell. pic.twitter.com/ixW4rK2AzG — Drey (@DNjtrenton) May 19, 2022
2. Lincoln Riley: $10+ million estimated (USC)
While USC isn’t required to reveal details on Riley’s deal since it is a private school, all estimates point towards at least $10 million per year. Riley has a coaching record of 55-10 with one bowl win in three appearances. The estimate is based on the average salary and incentives for the PAC 12 Championships, College Football Playoff Appearances, and national championships.
Riley is looking to turn around the Trojans who have gone 22-21 over the last four years and haven’t won a bowl game since 2016. As second on the list of highest paid college football coaches, Riley went and purchased a mansion in Los Angeles for over $17 million. It wouldn’t be a surprise for him to get a substantial pay raise after a few seasons coaching in the Pac-12.
Annual salary progression for Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley pic.twitter.com/NcDnuuoXyO
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) December 28, 2019
1. Kirby Smart: $11.25 million (Georgia)
Kirby Smart learned under Nick Saban in Alabama as his defensive coordinator before landing the head coaching job at Georgia in 2016. Smart is now the highest paid college football coach on an annual salary of $11.25 million.
Although he posted a relatively pedestrian 8-5 record in his first season, he’s been phenomenal ever since, going 58-10 with a championship last season. The Bulldogs title kicks in Smart’s incentive, which totaled $850,000.
In addition, Smart earned a contract extension to the tune of $112.5 million over 10 years. This puts Smart number one on the list of highest paid college football coaches, as Lincoln Riley’s amount remains somewhat of a mystery.
Kirby Smart, Salary Progression
2009-10: $360,000 2010-11: $750,000 2011-12: $850,000 2012-13: $950,000 2013-14: $1.15M 2014-15: $1.35M 2015-16: $1.5M 2016-17: $3.75M 2017-18: $3.75M 2018-19: $7M pic.twitter.com/bikm7GCmSN — Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) May 3, 2018
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Wolfgang Sport started in 2017 as a way to connect my passion for American and British sports. Today it's evolved into a blockchain sports blog pushing the boundaries into the crypto world and embracing Web3 technologies.
Its just so surprising to see that the college level managers are paid in such calibre! Yet that signifies how strong the soccer structure in this region. Are the other sport managers enjoying the similar scale?