Dan Mullen is getting paid a top-10 salary, but he is the only coach in the top 10 without a national or conference championship. Is he worth the price? Maybe. Mel Tucker, Steve Sarkisian, and Mark Stoops get paid $2M less without so much as a division championship. Only Jimbo Fisher, Kirby Smart, and Ryan Day get paid less with a conference or national championship.
Rank | Coach | School | Salary | Conference | Championships | Buyout |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Nick Saban | Alabama | $9,753,221* | SEC | 7 national | $38,400,000 |
2 | Ed Orgeron | Louisiana State | $9,012,917* | SEC | 1 national | $17,150,000 |
3 | David Shaw | Stanford | $8,924,683* | Pac-12 | 3 conference | — |
4 | Dabo Swinney | Clemson | $8,370,775* | ACC | 2 national | $47,500,000 |
5 | Lincoln Riley | Oklahoma | $7,672,710* | Big 12 | 4 conference | $25,188,000 |
6 | Dan Mullen | Florida | $7,570,000* | SEC | 1 division | $12,000,000 |
7 | Jimbo Fisher | Texas A&M | $7,500,000* | SEC | 1 national | $95,575,000 |
8 | Kirby Smart | Georgia | $7,133,600 | SEC | 1 conference | $14,614,167 |
9 | Ryan Day | Ohio State | $6,614,693* | Big Ten | 2 conference | $28,416,668 |
10 | Gary Patterson | Texas Christian | $6,103,543 | Big 12 | 6 conference | — |
11 | Pat Fitzgerald | Northwestern | $5,748,179 | Big Ten | 2 division | — |
12 | Chip Kelly | UCLA | $5,600,000* | Pac-12 | 3 conference | $9,000,000 |
13 | Mel Tucker | Michigan State | $5,566,303* | Big Ten | | $19,284,375 |
14 | Steve Sarkisian | Texas | $5,450,000* | Big 12 | | $20,603,333 |
15 | Mark Stoops | Kentucky | $5,263,600 | SEC | | $19,921,875 |
16 | Kyle Whittingham | Utah | $5,200,000* | Pac-12 | 1 conference | $18,250,000 |
17 | Scott Frost | Nebraska | $5,000,000* | Big Ten | 1 conference | $20,416,667 |
18 | Kirk Ferentz | Iowa | $5,000,000* | Big Ten | 2 conference | $16,503,333 |
19 | Bryan Harsin | Auburn | $5,000,000 | SEC | 4 conference | $17,791,667 |
20 | Mike Leach | Mississippi State | $5,000,000* | SEC | 2 division | — |
21 | Lane Kiffin | Mississippi | $4,841,937* | SEC | 2 conference | — |
22 | Pat Narduzzi | Pittsburgh | $4,816,806 | ACC | 1 division | — |
23 | Clay Helton | Southern California | $4,813,832* | Pac-12 | 1 conference | — |
24 | P.J. Fleck | Minnesota | $4,420,000* | Big Ten | 1 conference | $15,851,875 |
25 | Jeff Brohm | Purdue | $4,417,774* | Big Ten | 2 conference | $18,966,667 |
26 | Mario Cristobal | Oregon | $4,402,917* | Pac-12 | 2 conference | $15,030,000 |
27 | Paul Chryst | Wisconsin | $4,362,750* | Big Ten | 3 division | $19,103,724 |
28 | Tom Allen | Indiana | $4,260,000* | Big Ten | | $30,000,000 |
29 | Bronco Mendenhall | Virginia | $4,251,500* | ACC | 2 conference | $13,281,250 |
30 | Mike Gundy | Oklahoma State | $4,203,125* | Big 12 | 1 conference | $7,119,792 |
40 | Mike Norvell | Florida State | $3,750,000* | ACC | | $16,220,833 |