Top 10 Highest-Paid College Football Coaches
Big-time college football is a multibillion-dollar industry, so it should come as no surprise that more than half — 72 out of 121, to be exact — of the head coaches at Division I Football Bowl Subdivision schools make more than $1 million per year.
Additionally, the salaries of Dave Clawson at Wake Forest, Bronco Mendenhall at BYU, Steve Sarkisian at USC, Steve Addazio at Boston College, Derek Mason at Vanderbilt, Scott Shafer at Syracuse, and Matt Rhule at Temple are not made available to the public, but it is believed that all of them make well over $1 million per year, as well.
The annual compensation for the best head coaches in football seemingly gets higher and higher every year. Here is a look at the top 10 highest-paid coaches in college football.
All compensation data are courtesy of USA Today Sports.
10. Steve Spurrier, South Carolina
- School compensation: $4,000,000
- Outside compensation: $16,900
- Potential bonuses: $1,700,000
- Total compensation: $4,016,900
9. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa
- School compensation: $4,075,000
- Outside compensation: $0
- Potential bonuses: $1,750,000
- Total compensation: $4,075,000
8. James Franklin, Penn State
- School compensation: $4,300,000
- Outside compensation: Unknown
- Potential bonuses: $1,000,000
- Total compensation: $4,300,000
7. Les Miles, LSU
- School compensation: $4,300,000
- Outside compensation: $69,582
- Potential bonuses: $700,000
- Total compensation: $4,369,582
6. Urban Meyer, Ohio State
- School compensation: $4,486,640
- Outside compensation: $50,000
- Potential bonuses: $550,000
- Total compensation: $4,536,640
5. Charlie Strong, Texas
- School compensation: $5,000,000
- Outside compensation: $270
- Potential bonuses: $1,000,000
- Total compensation: $5,000,270
4. Kevin Sumlin, Texas A&M
- School compensation: $5,000,000
- Outside compensation: $6,000
- Potential bonuses: $750,000
- Total compensation: $5,006,000
3. Bob Stoops, Oklahoma
- School compensation: $5,058,333
- Outside compensation: $0
- Potential bonuses: $819,500
- Total compensation: $5,058,333
2. Mark Dantonio, Michigan State
- School compensation: $5,611,845
- Outside compensation: $24,300
- Potential bonuses: $650,000
- Total compensation: $5,636,145
1. Nick Saban, Alabama
- School compensation: $6,950,203
- Outside compensation: $209,984
- Potential bonuses: $700,000
- Total compensation: $7,160,187