Highest Paid College Football Coaches in the Country
How much do the highest paid college football coaches earn? Head coaches of NCAA athletic programs are the highest paid public employees across most American states, tasked with bringing home championships for these billion dollar institutions.
Highest Paid College Football Coaches
Amongst the list of highest paid college football coaches is a former NFL head coach. All coaches on the list are also paid higher than the average NFL head coach salary of $6.692 million. So who are the top ten paid coaches in NCAA football and what are their salaries? Let’s take a look.
10. Jimbo Fisher: $7.5 million (Texas A&M)
Fisher was hired by Texas A&M following his resignation from Florida State to rejuvenate a struggling program. He’s turned it around as the Aggies went 9-1 in 2020 and went on to win the Orange Bowl.
Although 2021 didn't meeting expectations with an 8-4 record, a win over Alabama showed that there was promise. A raise could be in order if the Aggies perform in accordance to their preseason ranking of number seven.
Through The Years: Jimbo Fisher's Salary pic.twitter.com/4WWejVOaqv
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) December 1, 2017
9. Mario Cristobal: $8 million (Miami)
After winning 10 games with the Oregon Ducks last season, Cristobal headed to Miami to revive a program that is a relatively mediocre 28-21. They also lost three bowls in the last four years. The move to Miami isn’t shocking for Cristobal, who grew up there and played offensive tackle for the Hurricanes.
Miami normally doesn't have one of the highest paid college football coaches. Although it will take some time before the Hurricanes reach the top, the commitment to Cristobal, who went 35-13 in five years at Oregon, suggests that the program will be back on track.
8. Dabo Swinney: $8.37 million (Clemson)
The Tigers have been to the College Football Playoff in each of the past six seasons. They also won two national championships during that time. A powerhouse in the ACC, it's clear that Swinney has earned his paycheck.
On the flip side, Clemson struggled early last season, losing two games in September for the first time in several years. Is it possible that the offensive talent, mainly at quarterback, carried the team and not Swinney? Swinney was once higher on the list of top-paid coaches before taking a $1.25 million salary hit.
$800,000: Dabo Swinney’s base salary in his first year as head coach of Clemson in 2009.
$793,269: What Dabo Swinney makes EVERY FIVE WEEKS as Clemson’s head coach for the 2019 season. pic.twitter.com/HWiRVNwb4y — Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) August 30, 2019
7. David Shaw: $8.93 million (Stanford)
Shaw is the surprise on the list of highest paid college football coaches considering his recent track record. After five 10-plus win seasons and four bowl victories between 2011 and 2016, the Cardinals have plummeted to 11-19 over the last three campaigns.
The Cardinals program is clearly not one that other conferences might want to steal from the Pac-12, based on a recent lack of success. It doesn’t appear that Shaw is on the verge of losing his job, but one must wonder at this point if his huge salary is justified.
6. Ryan Day: $9.5 million (Ohio State)
Replacing a legendary coach such as Urban Meyer wasn’t a walk in the park for Ryan Day, but he sure made it appear as though it was. Through his first 38 games he had a 34-4 record and an appearance in the College Football National Championship game in 2020.
Day earned $6.6 million in 2021 before signing an extension which boosted his salary by nearly $3 million per season. Day is now among the highest paid college football coaches in the country and could reach $10 million should the Buckeyes bring home a title this season.
Breaking from Ohio State: Ryan Day extended to 2028. Salary raised from $7.6 million to $9.5 million. That number puts him on the same level as Mel Tucker and Brian Kelly.
— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) May 18, 2022
...that's it for today tribe! I'll be back tomorrow with the final part!
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Wolfgang Sport started in 2017 as a way to connect my passion for American and British sports. Today it's evolved into a blockchain sports blog pushing the boundaries into the crypto world and embracing Web3 technologies.
Those college coaches are definetly making some good money there :O
It is so crazy to me how the sollege is sport is so big in the US, it is really unbelievable.
Yep I was having this conversation with my mate the other day. Us in Australia, we WISH we had this sort of upbringing with the whole college/NCAA system they have over there. Absolutely bonkers!