College football coaching salary data updated Wednesday by USA Today illustrates how the SEC and Big Ten have separated themselves, even within the Power Four, with their ability to pay the sport’s premier coaches.
In the SEC, it just means more money.
The data compiled gives the conference nine of college football’s 15 highest-paid coaches, including the dean in Georgia coach Kirby Smart, who is making $13.28 million before potential bonuses. Smart makes over $2 million more annually than Clemson’s Dabo Swinney, who is second among all coaches at $11.1 million.
SEC coaches average $8.1 million in salary, according to the data, with the average Big Ten salary coming in second at $6.8 million. The average ACC salary from the available data is $5.8 million, while the average total pay in the Big 12 is $4.9 million.
Salaries for all but nine of the 134 FBS coaches were listed. The exceptions are coaches at private institutions not required to disclose information on employee pay.
While the separation in mean salaries within the Power Four conferences is significant, it’s even more striking outside the power conference structure. The average compensation of AAC coaches is $1.8 million. Even the highest-paid Group of Five coach in the available data — USF’s Alex Golesh — makes less annually ($2.5 million) than the lowest-paid Power Four coach, Georgia Tech’s Brent Key ($2.9 million).
$10 million club
While the SEC dominates the top 15, there is a bit of conference diversity within the sport’s $10 million club. Seven coaches are earning $10 million or more in total pay, while LSU’s Brian Kelly is knocking on the door at $9.98 million. Three are from the SEC, and the Big Ten and ACC each have two. Former Alabama coach Nick Saban famously became the sport’s first $10 million man in 2017. His successor, Kalen DeBoer, also makes $10 million, as do two of his former coordinators: Smart (Georgia) and Steve Sarkisian (Texas).
Buyout bonanza
When Texas A&M fired Jimbo Fisher last November during his sixth season, he was owed north of $75 million in a buyout stemming from a blockbuster, fully guaranteed $95 million contract extension signed in 2021. It was the largest buyout in college football history. USA Today’s salary database illustrates the sport’s buyout bonanza isn’t slowing down. There are 13 coaches listed with buyouts in excess of $40 million. Smart leads the pack with a buyout of $118 million.
Five coaches presently working in Power Four leagues fall somewhat strikingly on the opposite end of the spectrum with buyouts of less than $10 million. They are West Virginia’s Neal Brown, Purdue’s Ryan Walters, Utah’s Kyle Whittingham, UCLA’s DeShaun Foster, Key of Georgia Tech and North Carolina’s Mack Brown.
Lanning to make another leap?
Third-year Oregon coach Dan Lanning inked a six-year, $45 million extension through the 2028 season last July and registers at No. 14 on the list with a total annual pay of $8.2 million. But with a 28-5 record midway through his third season, Lanning is arguably underpaid relative to his peers. The Ducks rose to No. 2 in the AP poll this week following a momentous win over Ohio State and have been recruiting at an elite clip under Lanning’s leadership.
Among the coaches making more than Lanning are Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz (33-22) and Kentucky’s Mark Stoops (76-68). Given Oregon’s trajectory under Lanning, it stands to reason that he may be in line for another bump in compensation.
Candidates for raises
Other obvious candidates for raises in the near future are Indiana’s Curt Cignetti and Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham. Cignetti, who is in his first year, has the Hoosiers ranked No. 16 amid a 6-0 start heading into a showdown with Nebraska this week. Presently, he ranks No. 49 on the list with total pay of $4.25 million. Dillingham, who is No. 56 on the list at $3.95 million, has guided Arizona State to a 5-1 start in his second season after taking over a program in the throes of an NCAA investigation.
Another who appears undervalued relative to the market is ninth-year Iowa State coach Matt Campbell, who ranks No. 53 overall and 10th among known Big 12 coaching salaries at $4 million annually. The No. 9 Cyclones are among the teams eyeing a Big 12 championship run following a 6-0 start. However, he is making only slightly more than struggling Big 12 colleagues like Gus Malzahn of UCF and Brown of West Virginia.
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