The coach, who is in his eighth season in charge of the program and won the team's first national championship in history, said the landmark contract he signed “reflects the times” and that “no matter what we do now… The money is getting bigger,” he said.
“People will talk about the amount of money he makes, but he's a very valuable person to this university,” the athletic director agreed.
In fact, Jeremy Foley understood what “head ball coach” meant to Gainesville and the Gators faithful when Steve Spurrier became the sport's first $2 million coach in 1997. I did. Spurrier, perhaps overjoyed, doubled the salary that Bobby Bowden received two years ago, making him the first coach at rival Florida State to reach the $1 million mark with bonuses.
today? Well, the $10 million-a-year deal is, as Spurrier jokes, “a reflection of the times.” Florida State's Mike Norvell and Texas State's Steve Sarkisian received contract extensions this year worth $10 million. That's what Alabama paid Karen DeBoer in his first year in Tuscaloosa.
Speaking of Tuscaloosa, Nick Saban became the first $10 million sideline boss in 2017, bumping his salary to more than $11 million, including a $4 million extension incentive bonus. After less than $10 million in salary in 2018 and 2019, Saban's salary in 2020 was just over $10 million — his salary was $9.3 million — thanks in part to bonuses. He led the University of Alabama to the national championship, earning it a record seventh (and final). ) Title.
Below is an overview of college football's current $10 million coaches. Here is USA Today's 2023 compensation list.
Ryan Day, Ohio State, $11 million
Day signed a two-year extension with his alma mater in 2022, increasing his salary to $9.5 million that year. He was awarded the club's rare $10 million last year as a result of the $250,000 retention bonus and 5.25% salary increase he received in the spring, the first of annual salary increases through 2028, the final year of his contract. It added to the atmosphere. Factoring in a retention bonus scheduled to begin Jan. 31 and another 5.25% raise, his 2024 salary will be just over $11 million. Day, 45, went 56-8 at Ohio State, making three CFP appearances and winning two Big Ten titles.
Dabo Swinney, Clemson, $11 million
Swinney signed a 10-year, $155 million contract extension in September 2022, making him $8.4 million in 2021 before being paid $10.5 million in the same year. The contract maxes out in 2031 at $12.5 million. (Three of his assistants earn $1 north.) After Tommy Bowden resigned during the 2008 season, Swiney took over as Clemson's coach, his 15th season in Death Valley. The 54-year-old coach went 170-43 with two national titles and eight ACC championships.
Kirby Smart, Georgia, $10.75 million
Smart agreed to a 10-year extension through 2031 with a salary of $12.25 million in summer 2022. The 48-year-old took over at his alma mater in 2016 after serving as Saban's defensive coordinator for eight seasons at Alabama. Smart has led the program with a 94-16 record in eight years. The Bulldogs have won back-to-back national titles (2021, 2022), appeared in three national championship games and won two SEC championships.
Steve Sarkisian, Texas, $10.3 million
Sarkisian signed a four-year extension with Texas in February. His compensation this year would have been $5.4 million. Therefore, his salary in 2024 has almost doubled. This is a deal that will keep the 50-year-old coach in Austin through 2030. Sarkisian led the Longhorns to a Big 12 title and a CFP appearance last season and led the team from 5-7 to 8-5 and 12-2 in 2018. Three seasons in Austin. Sarkisian, who was Saban's OC at Alabama for two seasons between UT, Washington and USC before landing at Texas, has a 71-49 record as a head coach.
Karen DeBoer, Alabama, $10 million
After the University of Washington lost to the University of Michigan in the CFP championship game, there were reports that the university was offering DeBoer more than double his 2023 salary of $4.22 before bonuses. Of course, the 49-year-old was hired by Bama in January and will be paid $10 million in his first year on the Tide's sideline. DeBoer, who includes a $225 monthly benefit for cell service, brings a 104-12 record (also including NAIA Sioux Falls and Fresno State) to Tuscaloosa. He said DeBoer compiled a 25-3 record in two seasons at UW.
Mike Norvell, Florida State, $10 million
Norvell signed a contract extension in February that will pay him $10 million this year after collecting $7.3 million last year. He will receive a $150,000 salary increase each year over the life of his contract, which ends in 2031, at which point the 42-year-old coach will earn $11.05 million. Norvell is 31-17 with the Seminoles, who went 13-1 and won the ACC title last season. He arrived in Tallahassee from Memphis, where he went 38-15, won the American title and advanced the Tigers to the New Year's Six Bowl. He is 69-32 in eight years as head coach.
Brian Kelly, LSU, $9.2 million
Kelly was brought to Baton Rouge from Notre Dame in 2021 on a 10-year, $95 million contract, with a maximum of $10 million in 2031. With a $500,000 bonus for each full season, this figure should be considered the minimum. To remain with the Tigers (paid every July) and earn bowl eligibility. So, at age 62, Kelly's annual salary is effectively $10 million. He was a head coach at Grand Valley State (two D-II championships), Central Michigan (one MAC title), Cincinnati (two Big East titles), Notre Dame, and LSU in 33 years. He has a record of 283 wins, 103 losses and 2 draws. 20-7.
Lincoln Riley, Southern California, N/A
USC is a private institution and has not disclosed financial details of Riley's current contract, which was agreed to after the 2021 regular season.there were Report/Quote It will be a 10-year, 9-figure contract. Riley, 40, spent five seasons at Oklahoma with a career record of 74-18, including 19-8 at USC.
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