While the House vs. NCAA case will shed light on the murky details of if, when, and how revenue is shared among players, one thing remains certain — no matter the outcome, college coaches are going to get paid.
As the rich get richer, who are the 10 highest-paid college football head coaches in 2024?
Highest-Paid College Football Head Coaches
Seven national championships, 11 SEC titles, and a 209-29 record over 17 years in Tuscaloosa earned Nick Saban the designation of best-paid coach in college football before he called it a career. However, his departure opened the door for a new top dawg, and unsurprisingly, he’s also from the SEC.
With 12 names in the top 10 due to a three-way tie for the 10th spot, let’s dissect the highest-paid college football head coaches in 2024.
T10) Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss Rebels: $9 Million
Fresh off the program’s first-ever 11-win season in 2023, Lane Kiffin secured a contract extension that now earns him $9 million per year. While bonuses could boost that figure even higher (maximum of $2.6 million), his base salary is tied with three other coaches for 10th-highest in the nation.
In just four years, Kiffin has led the Ole Miss Rebels to an impressive 39-17 record, solidifying the program as a formidable force in the SEC.
T10) Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri: $9 Million
The 2023 SEC Coach of the Year, Eli Drinkwitz, moved into the top 10 following a contract extension last December.
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After leading the Missouri Tigers to an 11-2 record and a Cotton Bowl victory, Drinkwitz’s pay increased from $6.25 million in 2024 through 2026 to $9 million through 2028. Drinkiwitz is 33-22 through five and a half seasons with the Tigers.
T10) Josh Heupel, Tennessee Volunteers: $9 Million
Josh Heupel has seen his stock rise fast with the Tennessee Volunteers. After starting his Volunteers tenure with a $4 million salary in 2021, his impressive back-to-back 9-4 and 11-2 campaigns led to a major payday in 2023.
Now earning $9 million annually on a deal through 2029, Heupel holds a 32-13 record and is primed to usher in a new era of success in Knoxville.
9) Mark Stoops, Kentucky Wildcats: $9.01 Million
When rumors connected Mark Stoops to the Texas A&M job, the Kentucky Wildcats wasted no time locking down him with a new deal in November. Now making just over $9 million per year through 2031, Stoops enters the top 10 highest-paid college coaches.
His tenure with the Wildcats has been marked by consistent success, posting seven winning seasons in the past eight years. While the school is well-known for its basketball program, Stoops has managed to elevate the football team, carving out a place for Kentucky in the competitive SEC.
8) Brian Kelly, LSU Tigers: $9.97 Million
In 2021, the LSU Tigers lured Brian Kelly away from Notre Dame with a massive 10-year, $95 million contract. He has already made his mark in Baton Rouge, leading the Tigers to a 25-8 record and overseeing QB Jayden Daniels’ breakout 2023 Heisman campaign.
Locked in through 2031, Kelly’s tenure is shaping up to be exactly what LSU envisioned when it brought him on board.
T6) Kalen DeBoer, Alabama Crimson Tide: $10 Million
Kalen DeBoer’s rise to replace Nick Saban with the Alabama Crimson Tide came with a massive pay raise. Earning $10 million annually through 2031, DeBoer’s contract marks a steep jump from the $4.2 million he made at Washington last year.
His impressive tenure with the Huskies, where he led them to a national championship appearance and a 25-3 record over two seasons, paved the way for his move to one of college football’s most storied programs.
T6) Mike Norvell, Florida State Seminoles: $10 Million
Following an undefeated regular season with the Florida State Seminoles, capped by an ACC championship and a controversial snub from the College Football Playoff, Mike Norvell secured a major contract extension.
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His new deal, which runs through 2031, nearly doubles his pay to $10 million annually, with potential earnings exceeding $11 million over time. Since taking the reins in 2021, Norvell has posted a 32-22 record and revitalized the Seminoles into an ACC powerhouse — this season notwithstanding.
5) Ryan Day, Ohio State Buckeyes: $10.02 Million
Ryan Day and the Ohio State Buckeyes agreed to a contract extension in 2022 that brought his salary to $9.5 million annually through 2028. He later secured further raises in both 2023 and 2024, pushing his salary to just over $10 million per year.
Day’s contract allows for annual salary adjustments every February, a perk earned after leading the Buckeyes to three consecutive 11-win campaigns. With a record of 61-9 and two Big Ten titles over five seasons, Day continues to cement his legacy at Ohio State.
However, if programs continue to underperform during crunch time, his seat could warm up shortly.
4) Lincoln Riley, USC Trojans: $10.04 Million
Lincoln Riley reportedly inked a massive $110 million deal when he joined the USC Trojans in 2021, with an estimated annual salary of $10 million. (USC is a private institution and, therefore, does not need to provide public financial records.)
Riley’s compensation could grow further based on performance incentives and other factors, reflecting the high expectations placed on him with the program.
Known for developing top-tier quarterbacks, Riley’s move to USC has allowed him to continue his offensive success on the West Coast. That said, his program hasn’t been able to compete against the best of the best, with the Trojans going 22-11 across the last three seasons.
3) Steve Sarkisian, Texas: $10.6 Million
After leading the Texas Longhorns to a Big 12 Championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff in 2023, Steve Sarkisian secured a new four-year deal that nearly doubled his previous salary.
In his three seasons at the helm, Sarkisian has compiled a record of 31-14 and has routinely produced some of the best offenses in the nation. Now, with the Longhorns at 6-0, it’s natty or bust for Sarkisian and Co.
2) Dabo Swinney, Clemson Tigers: $11.1 Million
Dabo Swinney briefly held the title of the highest-paid coach in college football after Nick Saban’s retirement. Following a lucrative 10-year contract signed in 2022, he’s set to earn $11.1 million in 2024.
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Over his 17 seasons with the Clemson Tigers, Swinney has achieved an impressive record of 175-44, clinching two national championships and eight ACC titles. His success has solidified Clemson’s place among college football’s elite programs, although it has been a few years since they’ve competed at that level.
1) Kirby Smart, Georgia Bulldogs: $13.2 Million
The Georgia Bulldogs’ Kirby Smart has officially taken the crown as the highest-paid coach in college football, thanks to a monumental extension signed in May that secured him $13 million annually through 2033.
Saban ruined the sport with his dominance, as it raised the fans’ floor and ceiling for what they expect from a head coach, but Smart has more than earned his price.
With two national championships, two SEC titles, and an impressive 99-17 record, the three-time SEC Coach of the Year stands at the pinnacle of collegiate coaching.
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