College football is considered an amateur sport, which means players can’t earn money for playing. However, a Supreme Court decision in 2021 changed things a bit.
Now, student-athletes can make money by selling their name, likeness, and image rights, allowing them to get deals like sponsorships and paid social media posts without losing their eligibility to play in the NCAA.
This ruling is seen as progress, but it doesn’t fully solve the problem: college sports rely on unpaid labour. It’s especially troubling considering how much money college sports generate—just March Madness alone brings in about a billion dollars for the NCAA each year. This leads to the question of the highest-paid college football coaches.
While college athletes don’t receive payment, their coaches do. Just a small fraction, around 17%, of college athletes engage in money-making opportunities through their name, image, and likeness (NIL).
On average, Division I athletes earn about $65 per NIL activity. Meanwhile, coaches like Nick Saban are earning a staggering $11 million this year. Curious to see who else tops the list of highest-paid college football coaches? Check it out below.
Let’s take a look at some numbers to understand the context of the highest-paid college football coaches.
College sports programs make hundreds of millions of dollars each year, with major sports schools consistently leading the earnings.
For instance, in the 2022 fiscal year, Ohio State brought in an impressive $251 million. Football typically drives the bulk of a school’s revenue, surpassing the combined earnings of the next 35 college sports.
Surprisingly, despite these massive revenues, most college sports programs don’t turn a profit. According to the NCAA, only 25 out of 65 Division I schools had a positive net revenue in 2019. In other words, the majority of schools operated at a loss in their athletic programs.
Continuing with the discussion on highest-paid college football coaches:
Even at prestigious schools, college football coaches receive substantial salaries. When comparing their pay to total revenue, the figures become even more startling.
For instance, Clemson’s Dabo Swinney earns $10.8 million annually, which accounts for over 15% of the team’s total revenue! To provide perspective, let’s look at Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey, whose total compensation in 2022 was approximately $23 million, while the company’s net operating revenues reached $43 billion.
Let’s delve into the perks and bonuses associated with these high-paying contracts for college football coaches:
In addition to hefty salaries, these mega-contracts are filled with incentives and benefits that further enrich the coaches. For instance, if Alabama clinches the SEC Championship, Nick Saban stands to gain an extra $125,000.
Should they secure the College Football National Championship, he’ll pocket an additional $800,000. Among the top ten highest-paid college football coaches, only one has a maximum bonus potential below $1 million.
Moreover, these contracts come with various perks. Many coaches receive country club memberships for themselves and their families. Additionally, they often have sizable budgets allocated for personal travel and entertainment expenses. Some even enjoy unrestricted access to private jets.
Top-Paid College Football Coaches
1). Nick Saban, The University of Alabama – $11.41 million
It’s easy to overlook that Nick Saban once coached the Miami Dolphins for a couple of underwhelming seasons, where he earned around $5 million annually (his combined record there was 15-17). However, his tenure at Tuscaloosa has been anything but lacklustre and considerably more financially rewarding.
Over sixteen seasons, Saban has led the Crimson Tide to eight SEC championships and six national championships. He has mentored four Heisman Trophy winners, earned the Coach of the Year title nine times, and maintains an impressive overall winning percentage of 88%.
Let’s not forget why we’re discussing him: Saban’s contract extension in 2022 places him at the pinnacle of the highest-paid college football coaches. His eight-year deal is valued at a total of $93.6 million, averaging out to $11.7 million annually.
2). Dabo Swinney, Clemson University – $10.88 million
William Christopher, known as “Dabo” Swinney, has a remarkable college football journey, both as a player and a coach.
His contract extension in 2022 secures his position as the head coach of the Clemson Tigers until the 2031 season. Dabo began his football career as a walk-on wide receiver for the Alabama Crimson Tide, contributing to their 1992 national championship victory.
In 2008, he took over as head coach of the Clemson Tigers, succeeding his former Alabama coach, Tommy Bowden. Swinney guided the Tigers to national championships in 2016 and 2018, achieving an impressive overall record of 165-43 at Clemson. As for his contract, it’s valued at a total of $115 million.
3). Kirby Smart, The University of Georgia – $10.71 million
Kirby Smart took over as the head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs in 2015, returning to the team where he once played as a college athlete.
Under his leadership, the Bulldogs have suffered only 15 losses. They secured consecutive national championships in 2021 and 2022 and maintain an undefeated record this year.
Smart also secured a lucrative multi-year contract extension. In the past year, he inked a deal worth $112.5 million, ensuring his role as the Bulldogs’ head coach until 2031.
Continuing with the discussion on the highest-paid college football coaches:
4). Ryan Day, Ohio State University – $10.27 million
Ryan Day, the head football coach at Ohio State University, commands a salary of $10.27 million this year, nearly 10% of his team’s total revenue.
While Ohio State has performed well under his leadership, Day has yet to guide them to a national championship. He assumed the head coaching position in 2019, with the Buckeyes’ last championship victory dating back to 2015.
From 2010 to 2014, under manager Bruce Bochy’s guidance, the San Francisco Giants clinched three World Series titles. Three! During that period, Bochy earned an estimated $6 million annually. While that sum is substantial, compared to college football standards, it appears to be a bargain.
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5). Mel Tucker, Michigan State University – $10.02 million (TERMINATED)
Mel Tucker is no longer serving as the head coach at Michigan State University.
In September, Tucker was terminated from his position after allegations surfaced that he had sexually harassed Brenda Tracy, a well-known advocate for sexual assault survivors and a survivor herself.
Tucker had held the role of head football coach at Michigan State since 2020 and had signed a ten-year contract extension worth $95 million in 2021.
By terminating him for cause, Michigan State University will avoid paying him the remaining $80 million specified in his contract. Following Tucker’s termination, Harlon Barnett took on the role of interim coach at MSU.
6). Lincoln Riley, University of Southern California – approximately $10 million
As USC is a private institution, the specifics of head football coach Lincoln Riley’s salary and contract are not publicly disclosed.
However, reports indicate that his contract spans ten years with a total value of $110 million, placing him among the highest-paid college football coaches nationwide.
Before joining USC, Riley served as the head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners, where he achieved a remarkable 55-10 record, making him the winningest coach in OU’s history.
However, his performance at USC has been less impressive, with an 18-5 record thus far and underwhelming playoff statistics: only 1 win in 4 end-of-season bowl games and no wins in 3 College Football Playoff appearances.
With USC facing another disappointing season, there’s already speculation in the media questioning whether Riley is the right fit for the job.
Continuing with the discussion on the highest-paid college football coaches:
7). Brian Kelly, Louisiana State – $9.9 million
In 2021, Brian Kelly departed from Notre Dame to take on the role of head coach for the LSU Tigers, securing a lucrative 10-year contract valued at $95 million.
With an average annual base salary of $9.5 million, Kelly ranks among the top-paid college football coaches nationwide. Furthermore, his contract includes numerous bonuses and incentives that could enhance his earnings significantly.
For instance, each appearance by the LSU Tigers in the SEC Championship adds an extra $75,000 to Kelly’s compensation. If the team emerges victorious, this figure doubles to $150,000.
Each year Brian Kelly continues as the Tigers’ coach, he earns an additional half a million dollars, known as a “longevity bonus.”
Furthermore, if the Tigers qualify for a bowl game, Kelly pockets another half a million. However, delving deeper into the contract reveals its coach-friendly nature: if Kelly is terminated without cause, he is entitled to 90% of his remaining base salary.
Even if he is fired after leading the team to a national championship, he still receives his full salary (two of LSU’s last three coaches who were fired had recently won national championships).
8). Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M – $9.1 million
Determining the value of these hefty contracts, whether for coaches or players, can be quite complex.
For many fans, success is often measured by whether these big deals result in championships for the team. Take Aaron Judge, for example, who signed a 9-year, $360 million contract with the Yankees last year.
While fans were thrilled to see him stay, failure to secure a World Series title during his tenure might tarnish his legacy with the team. With such high stakes involved, expectations soar, and when those expectations aren’t met, these long-term guaranteed contracts start to seem questionable.
A similar scenario is unfolding at Texas A&M. In August 2021, Fisher inked a 4-year extension, keeping him as the Aggies’ head coach until 2031 with an average annual salary of $9 million.
Despite a dismal performance from his team last year, Fisher held onto his job because the school would have owed him a hefty $86 million if he were fired mid-season.
Even though it would still cost Texas A&M a staggering $76 million to let him go this year, reports suggest his position is at risk as the Aggies currently hold a mediocre 5-4 record and are out of contention for SEC or national titles.
9). Mark Stoops, University of Kentucky – $9 million
Mark Stoops has served as the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats since 2013. In 2022, he agreed to an extension that will keep him in Lexington until 2030, with an annual salary reported at $9 million.
While the Wildcats achieved a 7-6 record last year, they’ve shown improvement this year with a 6-3 standing. Overall, Stoops holds the title of the winningest coach in the school’s history.
10). Josh Heupel, University of Tennessee – $9 million
In Josh Heupel’s first year at the University of Tennessee, his team finished with a 7-6 record overall and suffered a loss to Purdue in overtime during a bowl game.
However, the previous year saw significant success for the Volunteers, with an impressive 11-2 record and a victory over Clemson in the Orange Bowl.
If Heupel maintains this positive trajectory, the contract extension he signed, which boosts his annual salary to approximately $9 million, will likely be viewed as a wise decision. Moreover, this salary places him competitively among SEC head coaches in today’s market.
We trust you find our piece on the highest-paid college football coaches engaging.