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 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. He jumped Georgia head coach Kirby Smart, who received a 10-year contract after leading the Bulldogs to back-to-back national titles.

Clemson’s Dabo Swinney sits right behind 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

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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. Kirby Smart, Georgia — $11.25 million

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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.

3. 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.

4. Lincoln Riley, USC — $10 million

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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.

5. Brian Kelly, LSU — $9.7 million

LSU coach Brian Kelly (Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)

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.

T-6. Ryan Day, Ohio State — $9.5 million

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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 $9.5 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.

T-6. Mel Tucker, Michigan State — $9.5 million

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After Michigan State finished with a 10-3 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.

8. Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M — $9.15 million

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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. Josh Heupel, Tennessee — $9 million

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Josh Heupel took over Tennessee at a tumultuous time in the aftermath of Jeremy Pruitt’s ousting. 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.

10. Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss — $8.75 million

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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.

No. 11-25 highest paid head coaches

11. Mark Stoops, Kentucky — $8.6 million
12. James Franklin, Penn State — $8.5 million
13. Mario Cristobal, Miami — $8 million
14. Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State — $7.63 million
15. Luke Fickell, Wisconsin — $7.5 million
16. Billy Napier, Florida — $7.2 million
17. Brent Venables, Oklahoma — $7.1 million
18. Jim Harbaugh, Michigan — $7.05 million
19. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa — $7 million
20. Hugh Freeze, Auburn — $6.5 million
21. Shane Beamer, South Carolina — $6.13 million
22. Chip Kelly, UCLA — $6.1 million
23. Sam Pittman, Arkansas — $6.36 million
T-24. Kyle Whittingham, Utah — $6.33 million
T-24. Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri — $6 million
T-24. Bret Bielema, Illinois — $6 million
T-24. PJ Fleck, Minnesota — $6 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.

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