Alabama football coach Nick Saban is being paid $11.1M this season, making him the "first coach to break" the $10M barrier, according to Brady, Berkowitz & Schnaars of USA TODAY. The "median compensation for head football coaches" is a little more than $3.3M in the five wealthiest conferences, plus Notre Dame. That is up by almost $1M since '13. Saban’s pay for this season includes a $4M bonus that Alabama AD Greg Byrne said is a "recognition of what Saban accomplished in his first 10 seasons at Alabama, including four national championships." Korn Ferry Vice Chair Jed Hughes said the reason salaries go up for CEOs and for big-time coaches is the "dearth of talent." He added, "The talent supply is limited. So therefore trying to find someone who has experience at the highest levels, you’re in rarefied air" (USA TODAY, 10/26).
|
HIGHEST-PAID COACHES IN FBS
|
| SCHOOL |
COACH
|
SCHOOL PAY
|
TOTAL PAY
|
MAX BONUS
|
BONUSES '16-17
|
| Alabama |
Nick Saban
|
$11,132,000
|
$11,132,000
|
$700,000
|
$550,000
|
| Clemson |
Dabo Swinney
|
$8,504,600
|
$8,526,800
|
$1,000,000
|
$1,525,000
|
| Michigan |
Jim Harbaugh
|
$7,004,000
|
$7,004,000
|
$1,325,000
|
$200,000
|
| Ohio State |
Urban Meyer
|
$6,431,240
|
$6,431,240
|
$775,000
|
$300,000
|
| Arizona |
Rich Rodriguez
|
$5,631,563
|
$6,031,563
|
$2,025,000
|
$25,000
|
| Florida State |
Jimbo Fisher
|
$5,700,000
|
$5,700,000
|
$1,475,000
|
$200,000
|
| Stanford |
David Shaw
|
$5,680,441
|
$5,680,441
|
--
|
--
|
| Texas |
Tom Herman
|
$5,486,316
|
$5,486,316
|
$725,000
|
--
|
| TCU |
Gary Patterson
|
$5,104,077
|
$5,105,077
|
--
|
--
|
| Texas A&M |
Kevin Sumlin
|
$5,000,000
|
$5,000,000
|
$1,050,000
|
$100,000
|
| Auburn |
Gus Malzahn
|
$4,725,000
|
$4,726,960
|
$1,400,000
|
$275,000
|
| Penn State |
James Franklin
|
$4,600,000
|
$4,600,000
|
$1,000,000
|
$900,000
|
| Iowa |
Kirk Ferentz
|
$4,550,000
|
$4,550,000
|
$2,875,000
|
$600,000
|
| Mississippi State |
Dan Mullen
|
$4,500,000
|
$4,500,000
|
$1,150,000
|
$150,000
|
| Florida |
Jim McElwain
|
$4,457,000
|
$4,457,400
|
$925,000
|
$300,000
|
| Michigan State |
Mark Dantonio
|
$4,380,492
|
$4,390,492
|
$650,000
|
$0
|
| Arkansas |
Bret Bielema
|
$4,200,000
|
$4,245,000
|
$1,000,000
|
$125,000
|
| Oklahoma State |
Mike Gundy
|
$4,200,000
|
$4,200,000
|
$900,000
|
$62,500
|
| Washington |
Chris Petersen
|
$4,125,000
|
$4,127,500
|
$1,050,000
|
$675,000
|
| Tennessee |
Butch Jones
|
$4,110,000
|
$4,110,000
|
$1,000,000
|
$250,000
|
