Syracuse Orange head coach Fran Brown took a unique path to upstate New York in a young career spanning only 14 years. Originally from the Mid-Atlantic area, Brown first moved south to play for Western Carolina and then moved around the country after two seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Most recently, he earned acclaim as the DB coach for the Georgia Bulldogs, leading directly to this opportunity with the Orange. So, what does Brown’s salary, contract, and net worth look like in his first college football head coaching role?
Fran Brown’s Salary and Contract in 2024
Unfortunately, as a private university, Syracuse is not obligated to make financial information available publicly, meaning any information on Brown’s salary is speculation.
The last time information about the earnings of the football team’s head coach was made available was in 2021 when it was disclosed that Dino Babers was made $4.1 million.
As a first-time head coach, it can be reasonably inferred that Brown will be making less than Babers did almost three years ago. This has led to speculation that Brown’s salary is in the $3-4 million range, with escalators and bonus opportunities for bowl appearances, wins, and any potential championship success.
While most new contracts in this coaching cycle have been for five years, Brown’s contract is expected to be at least four years — or the length of a conventional recruiting cycle. Coaching stability is a significant factor in recruiting, which is one of the things that prompted Orange to hire Brown in the first place.
An expert recruiter, Brown has already impressed in the transfer portal, bringing in several high-profile transfers. For example, former Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord is expected to lead the Orange offense in 2024.
Meanwhile, several Georgia players have followed their former DB coach to Syracuse, showcasing the esteem in which he’s held by people familiar with him.
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“Fran is an outstanding coach, recruiter and person, and exactly who we need to take Syracuse Football to the next level,” Athletic Director John Wildhack enthused on announcing Brown’s hiring. “Fran has clearly articulated a vision for the future of our football program, and he is a powerhouse recruiter with deep ties to the geographies from where we need to draw consistently.
“Fran has had tremendous success recruiting to a variety of programs—in the South, Southwest and Northeast, and I have no doubt he will bring that track record here to Syracuse. I am looking forward to welcoming Fran and his family to the Orange community. The future is bright for our football program.”
Fran Brown’s Net Worth
Brown made nearly $1 million in his final year at Georgia, earning a base salary of $788,000 with incentives that added up to nearly $200,000. According to USA Today, Brown made $750,000 in his first year at Georgia and $675,000 at Rutgers.
Factor those figures into an estimated $3-4 million salary on a minimum four-year deal; Brown’s net worth is in the $13-18 million range. If he impresses on the recruiting trail and the field, he will see his salary grow to help retain him.
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Brown is an exciting new head coaching hire. If he succeeds, he’ll become more of a household name and could receive interest for other open jobs in the future.
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