Kirby Smart topped the charts of the highest-paid college football coaches in 2024. Smart earned $10.5 million in his previous contract, and now Smart signed a ten-year contract extension that runs through 2033. Earlier, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney was reigning the list with his 10-year contract that was signed in September 2022 but Kirby Smart is on the throne now.
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Now, with Georgia Bulldogs making Smart the highest-paid coach, other coaches stand near Smart in terms of earnings. And here’s a list of 5 highest-paid college football coaches.
Top 5 highest-paid college football coaches
The collegiate football landscape has evolved enormously. A gateway to play in the NFL, and commence their football careers, players and coaches set their tone for the football career in the collegiate football arena.
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From Kirby Smart to Kalen Deboer, here’s a list of 5 highest-paid college football coaches.
Kirby Smart
The Georgia Bulldogs head coach recently signed a $130 million 10-year contract extension with the team. The deal provides Smart with $13 million in yearly salary, throning him as the highest-paid coach just above Dabo Swinney with $11 million. Entering his ninth season as the Bulldogs HC, Smart can also earn up to $1.5 million in bonuses.
Dabo Swinney
The Clemson University head coach Dabo Swinney is currently on a 10-year contract worth $115 million with the team. The contract that was signed in September 2022, made Swinney the highest-paid college football coach, then. Swinney’s deal secures him an $11.5 million annual salary.
Steve Sarkisian
The Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian’s previous salary of $5.8 million got an almost 78% increase. Earlier this year, Sarkisian signed a contract extension that runs through 2030. The new contract gives Sarkisian a yearly salary of $10.3 million, and it is set to increase by $100,000 yearly until 2030. Subsequently, that will make his salary to $10.9 million by 2030.
Ryan Day
The Ohio State head coach Ryan Day earns $10.19 million yearly. Day signed a two-year extension in early 2022 that raised his salary to $9.5 million to $7.5 million. Moreover, in 2023 he got a raise of 5.25% that eventually made his salary $10.19 million. Every year, Ryan Day is eligible for a raise on Feb 1.
Kalen Deboer
Back in March 2024, Alabama head coach Kalen Deboer signed an eight contract that will give him $10 million in his first year. Moreover, the salary is set to increase by $250,000 yearly which will provide him with $11.75 million yearly by the end of the deal in 2031.