SEC dominates list of highest-paid assistant coaches
Christopher Smith | 9 years ago
It pays to be an SEC assistant coach.
No, SEC assistants don’t make the $4 million plus of every SEC West head coach. But several coordinators are making money previously reserved only for well-established power-conference head coaches.
Seven of the 10 highest-paid college football assistants coach in the SEC, including five defensive coordinators.
10 HIGHEST-PAID COLLEGE FOOTBALL ASSISTANTS, 2015*
Coach |
School/Main Title |
Salary |
1. Will Muschamp |
Auburn defensive coordinator |
$1.6 million |
T2. Kirby Smart |
Alabama defensive coordinator |
$1.5 million |
T2. John Chavis |
Texas A&M defensive coordinator |
$1.5 million |
T2. Cam Cameron |
LSU offensive coordinator |
$1.5 million |
5. Todd Grantham |
Louisville defensive coordinator |
$1.4 million |
6. Brent Venables |
Clemson defensive coordinator |
$1.35 million |
7. Jeremy Pruitt |
Georgia defensive coordinator |
$1.3 million |
8. Kevin Steele |
LSU defensive coordinator |
$1 million |
9. Brian Schottenheimer |
Georgia offensive coordinator |
$950,000 |
T10. Bud Foster |
Virginia Tech defensive coordinator |
$900,000 |
T10. Mike Norvell |
Arizona State offensive coordinator |
$900,000 |
*All data courtesy of CoachingSearch.com.
The SEC also compensates position coaches very well.
With the exception of offensive line, the SEC claims one or two of the three highest-paid coaches at every position. Note that several of these coaches hold additional titles like special teams coach or associate head coach.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Coach |
School |
Salary |
1. Adrian Klemm |
UCLA |
$723,000 |
2. Rick Trickett |
Florida State |
$583,000 |
3. Joe Wickline |
Texas |
$575,000 |
DEFENSIVE LINE
Coach |
School |
Salary |
1. Greg Mattison |
Michigan |
$700,000 |
2. Rodney Garner |
Auburn |
$600,000 |
3. Ron Aiken |
Oregon |
$500,000 |
RUNNING BACKS
Coach |
School |
Salary |
1. Frank Wilson |
LSU |
$660,000 |
2. Clarence McKinney |
Texas A&M |
$458,000 |
3. Jay Graham |
Florida State |
$403,000 |
RECEIVERS
Coach |
School |
Salary |
Dameyune Craig |
Auburn |
$500,000 |
Lawrence Dawsey |
Florida State |
$463,000 |
Bryan McClendon |
Georgia |
$400,000 |
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Coach |
School |
Salary |
1. Mel Tucker |
Alabama |
$500,000 |
2. Brian Stewart |
Nebraska |
$400,000 |
3. Demetrice Martin |
UCLA |
$385,000 |
TIGHT ENDS
Coach |
School |
Salary |
1. Bobby Williams |
Alabama |
$440,840 |
2. Tim Brewster |
Florida State |
$433,000 |
3. Tom Osborne |
Oregon |
$367,584 |