Top 25 highest paid head coaches in college football
Coaches’ salaries are a big topic of conversation around college football. With success, there usually comes a hefty payday, and the top salaries have been revealed, according to the USA Today and On3’s coaches salaries index.
Atop the list is Alabama head coach Nick Saban. The seven-time national champion recently agreed to a new eight-year deal that made him the highest-paid head coach in the country. At the time, he jumped Georgia head coach Kirby Smart, who received a 10-year contract after leading the Bulldogs to back-to-back national titles.
But Clemson’s Dabo Swinney now sits between them after his new deal gave him a $10.89 million salary. Those are just some of the notable names to receive big paydays.
1. Nick Saban, Alabama — $11.4 million
Saban’s eight-year deal is worth $93.6 million and includes yearly escalators. In the first year of the contract last year, his salary was $10.7 million, but that number will go up to at least $12.7 million by the time the deal expires.
Saban’s resume speaks for itself, leading Alabama to six national championships since taking over in 2007. This year has been up-and-down en route to a 4-1 record, but the Crimson Tide are still in the SEC West hunt heading into this week’s pivotal matchup against Texas A&M.
2. Dabo Swinney, Clemson — $10.88 million
Swinney agreed to a 10-year deal worth $115 million over the offseason, making him one of the nation’s highest-paid head coaches. A two-time national champion, Swinney’s deal would keep him with the program through 2031.
Clemson got off to a rough start to the 2023 season with a loss to Duke, and suffered its second defeat in overtime against Florida State. No team has ever made the College Football Playoff with two losses, but the Tigers have won 10 games every year since 2011, and they’ll try to win out to continue that streak.
3. Kirby Smart, Georgia — $10.7 million
Winning two straight national championships earned Smart a 10-year deal that, at the time, made him the highest-paid coach in the country. Georgia hadn’t won a national title 1980 before finally breaking through in 2022, and the university rewarded Smart for his efforts.
The Bulldogs are again the favorite to win the national championship this year, remaining at No. 1 in this week’s AP Top 25 with sights set on another College Football Playoff appearance. Georgia has another notable SEC game this week against Kentucky.
4. Ryan Day, Ohio State — $10.27 million
Ohio State has been a mainstay atop the Big Ten East under Ryan Day, who’s lost just six games since taking over full-time in 2019. He also received a contract extension in May 2022 that took his salary to $10.27 million, which puts him among the highest-paid head coaches in the country.
The Buckeyes are off to a fast start to the year with new quarterback Kyle McCord, notably beating Notre Dame as part of a 4-0 record. Ohio State was off last week for the bye, but will look to build on that undefeated record this week against Maryland.
5. Mel Tucker, Michigan State — $10.02 million
After Michigan State finished with an 11-2 record in 2021, Mel Tucker was one of the most sought-after coaches in the carousel. But MSU rose to the occasion, giving him a record-setting contract extension that moved him into the nation’s highest-paid head coaches.
Tucker is no longer the head coach in East Lansing after the university fired him for cause last month after allegations of sexual harassment by prominent advocate Brenda Tracy. Because he was fired for cause, Michigan State doesn’t have to pay him the remainder of his salary, but he is already threatening legal action.
6. Lincoln Riley, USC — $10 million
Lincoln Riley turned USC around right away after leaving Oklahoma, taking the Trojans from a 4-8 record in 2021 to an 11-3 mark in 2022. He also received an impressive salary when he arrived in Los Angeles at $10 million per year.
USC once again has one of the nation’s highest-powered offenses, and that has helped the Trojans to a perfect 5-0 start to the season. They’ll take on Arizona this week to continue Pac-12 play, but a prove-it game awaits against Notre Dame on Oct. 14.
7. Brian Kelly, LSU — $9.7 million
Brian Kelly’s first season at LSU couldn’t have gone better as the Tigers made an SEC Championship appearance and finished with a 9-4 record. The former Notre Dame headman is also among the highest-paid coaches in the nation, making $9.7 million per year.
LSU went back-and-forth with Ole Miss in a shootout last week en route to a 55-49 loss to fall to 3-2. The Tigers will look to get back on track this week against Missouri.
8. Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M — $9.15 million
When talking about the future at Texas A&M, Jimbo Fisher’s buyout always comes into the conversation. His $9.15 million annual salary includes a hefty buyout, and that became a talking point after last year’s disappointing 5-7 record.
The Aggies are already closing in on last year’s win total, though, bringing a 4-1 record into this week’s game against Alabama. The SEC schedule won’t make it easy for Texas A&M to get over that six-win hump and into a bowl game, but it’s part of a critical year for Fisher in College Station.
9. Mark Stoops — $9.01 million
Mark Stoops has turned Kentucky into an SEC contender after rebuilding the program. The Wildcats have made seven straight bowl games and are on the precipice of another — which is why Stoops is one of the nation’s highest paid coaches.
Kentucky is now 5-0 on the season after a monster victory over Florida last week. That creates some momentum heading into this week’s matchup against top-ranked Georgia.
T-10. Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss — $9 million
There were plenty of rumors connecting Lane Kiffin to the head coach opening at Auburn this past offseason, but he ultimately chose to stay at Ole Miss. As a result, he got a new contract that moved his salary to $9 million.
Kiffin and the Rebels enter this week’s game against Arkansas with a 4-1 record, only losing to Alabama in Week 4. They won a thriller last week against LSU with a high-powered offensive display in the 55-49 victory.
T-10. Josh Heupel, Tennessee — $9 million
Josh Heupel took over Tennessee at a tumultuous time in the aftermath of Jeremy Pruitt’s ouster. The Volunteers started his tenure with a 7-5 record, but broke out for an 11-2 mark last season — earning Heupel a big contract extension with a nice raise.
With Hendon Hooker off to the NFL, Tennessee turned to Joe Milton to lead the high-powered offense this year. The Vols are now 4-1 entering the bye week, only losing to Florida, and will return to action next week against Texas A&M.
No. 12-25 highest paid head coaches
12. James Franklin, Penn State — $8.5 million
13. Jim Harbaugh, Michigan — $8.25 million
14. Mario Cristobal, Miami — $8 million
T-15. Luke Fickell, Wisconsin — $7.63 million
T-15. Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State — $7.63 million
17. Mike Norvell, Florida State — $7.3 million
18. Billy Napier, Florida — $7.2 million
19. Brent Venables, Oklahoma — $7.1 million
20. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa — $7 million
21. Dan Lanning, Oregon — $6.62 million
T-22. Hugh Freeze, Auburn — $6.5 million
T-22. Bret Bielema, Illinois — $6.5 million
24. Sam Pittman, Arkansas — $6.36 million
25. Kyle Whittingham, Utah — $6.33 million
Click here to view the full list of coaches salaries
Some big names got paid as a result of success and new contract extensions. That adds to the pressure around some as conference play picks up through October — and the College Football Playoff quickly approaching.