When it comes to college football, the figures off the field are sometimes as staggering as the plays on it. The USC football team in 2023 was engaged in a financial balancing act. They are paying their head coach, Lincoln Riley, a whopping $11.5 million.
But they are continuing to write fat checks to their old boss, Clay Helton, months after he got the ax. It’s a two-for-one price tag for head coaches — and it’s a tale that illustrates just how costly pursuing football greatness can be.
USC’s Coaching Salaries and Contracts: The Million-Dollar Playbook
Riley’s coming to USC was all about putting the Trojans back on the map of college football’s upper echelon — and his salary says how committed the university is. Based on the most recent tax returns, Riley earned about $11.5 million in 2023.
That translates into a $10.2 million base salary, $100,000 in bonuses, and more than $1.1 million in add-ons such as benefits and reportable compensation.
To put that in context, Riley’s pay is comparable to some NFL head coaches and exceeds what many university presidents earn. USC is evidently laying out the red carpet to maintain its football program at a competitive level.
USC football coach Lincoln Riley was paid just over $11.5 million in total reportable compensation in 2023, according to the school’s latest federal tax returns.
The tax returns also disclose that Riley has a $3.43 million housing loan with the university.
— Ryan Kartje (@Ryan_Kartje) May 15, 2025
What makes Riley’s pay so intriguing is that it goes along with the new arms race in college football coaching. With the popularity of the sport booming, revenues skyrocketing, and top coaches getting superstar salaries, USC is included.
But the Trojans were not just compensating Riley. Helton, who coached USC from 2016 through the middle of the 2021 season, is still a budget consideration. Even though Helton was fired, his contract contained a substantial buyout clause that USC is still paying out.
Estimates put the sum USC is paying Helton at between $10 million and $15 million. It’s a sum that reaches well into 2023. So while Riley is in charge on the field, USC is still paying for Helton’s departure.
This two-payoff is a classic case of the financial headaches college programs experience in overhauling their coaching staff. Helton’s tenure included a memorable Rose Bowl win, but USC thought it was time to turn over a new leaf. The price tag? An expensive buyout package that casts a lingering shadow on the Trojans’ payroll.
Reports Outline USC’s Financial Investments in Lincoln Riley and Former Coach Clay Helton in 2023
The fiscal legerdemain between Riley’s stratospheric salary and Helton’s residual buyout shows the tricky business offstage in college football. USC is taking a high-risk, high-reward approach.
On the plus side, they’ve invested a ton of money in Riley, hoping he’ll transform the program into a national powerhouse again. On the minus side, they’re paying off the tab on previous coaching choices.
Mike Bohn, USC’s athletic director, has stated confidence in Riley to take the program forward, saying, “We recognize the importance of investing in our coaching staff to position our program for sustained success.”
Briefly, USC’s 2023 financial investments demonstrate both the aspiration and the cost of sustaining a top-tier football program in the current college sports context. Shelling out millions to two coaches at the same time would be wasteful to some, perhaps, but for USC, it’s part of a larger plan to reassert itself among college football’s best.
Now, the pressure is squarely on Riley to justify his salary as money well spent. There is immense pressure to win, and USC faithful hope big. The Trojans are counting on Riley’s offensive wizardry and recruiting acumen to return them to national championship contention, a place where the program once consistently prospered.
KEEP READING: Lincoln Riley Delivers a Stacked 2026 Class, But USC Fans Aren’t Impressed
Meanwhile, the lingering payments to Helton are a reminder that the past still echoes financially. But USC’s leaders are clear-eyed about their priorities: invest heavily now to build a winning culture that lasts.
As the 2025 season approaches, the million-dollar question is whether Riley’s leadership will deliver the on-field success that makes USC’s financial gamble pay off.
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