Daniel MaderMon, December 1, 2025 at 1:35 PM UTC·14 min readCollege football's 30 highest-paid coaches in 2025, from Lane Kiffin to Bill Belichick originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
It pays well to be an elite college football head coach.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWhile players are also now well-compensated in the NIL era, a strong program often starts and ends with the coach — which is why universities with strong financial muscle pay top-dollar to land the biggest-name coaches out there.
A massive paycheck doesn't always guarantee good results, but it's certainly no coincidence that most of the highest-paid coaches have significant resumes.
Here's a full list of the 30 highest-paid head coaches in college football in 2025, with most figures according to USA Today's salary database.
MORE: The 11 most-expensive coach buyouts paid in college football history
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement1. Kirby Smart, Georgia
Kirby SmartAverage salary: $13,282,580
Kirby Smart, who has led Georgia since 2016, was rewarded in 2024 with a new 10-year, $130 million contract that made him college football's first-ever $13 million head coach on an annual basis. His deal runs through the 2033 season.
Alabama's Nick Saban had been the highest-paid college football coach up until his retirement, a throne that Smart, a two-time national champion with the Bulldogs, has since taken.
MORE: A breakdown of Kirby Smart, Dan Lanning and more being on Nick Saban's 2015 staff
2. Ryan Day, Ohio State
Average salary: $12,575,000
Fresh off a national championship in the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff, Ohio State gave Ryan Day a seven-year contract that was valued around $12.5 million annually. It also reportedly included various performance bonuses.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDay, who took over the Buckeyes' program in 2018, has led the team to two Big Ten titles and a national championship.
MORE: Why did Julian Sayin transfer from Alabama to Ohio State?
3. Lane Kiffin, LSU
Lane Kiffin(Getty Images)
Average salary: $12,000,000
After a drawn-out saga that captivated the college football world, Lane Kiffin left Ole Miss to become the next head coach at LSU, receiving a nice raise in the process. Kiffin signed a seven-year deal reportedly worth $12 million annually, making him one of the nation's highest-paid coaches.
Kiffin went 55-19 at Ole Miss, successfully rising to prominence at the highest level after resurrecting his coaching career at FAU. The former USC and Tennessee coach guided the Rebels to a College Football Playoff appearance before leaving in 2025, and he arrives in Baton Rouge with expectations of championship-level football and nothing less.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMORE: College football 2-minute warning, explained
4. Curt Cignetti, Indiana
Curt Cignetti© Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Average salary: $11,600,000
Curt Cignetti's long coaching career, from Pitt in 1983 as a graduate assistant to the head coach at IUP, Elon and James Madison, took him to Indiana in November 2023. He's been one of the most well-regarded coaches in the sport since.
Mid-way through his first season with the Hoosiers, Cignetti was extended on an eight-year contract. However, as his success continued during the 2025 season, Cignetti was reportedly given a new eight-year contract with an average annual compensation of approximately $11.6 million, per On3. The new deal keeps Cignetti at Indiana through Nov. 30, 2033.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMORE:Curt Cignetti's full coaching timeline
5. Lincoln Riley, USC
Lincoln Riley(Getty Images)
Average salary: $11,537,560
In 2022, the USC Trojans signed Lincoln Riley to a reported 10-year, $110 million contract. He joined the team fresh off a successful five-year run at Oklahoma.
One of the younger head coaches on this list, Riley formerly led the Sooners to four Big 12 titles and was also named the conference's Coach of the Year in 2018.
MORE: Inside Lincoln Riley's record since leaving Oklahoma
6. Mike Elko, Texas A&M
Average salary: $11.5 million
Mike Elko has been at the helm at Texas A&M since November 2023. However, in November 2025, the Aggies announced they were rewarding their head coach for an undefeated start to the 2025 season.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAccording to Billy Liucci of TexAgs.com, Elko's extension is for six years with an average salary of $11.5 million per year. That put him in the top-5 for highest-paid coaches, just as he enjoyed a peak of his success at Texas A&M.
MORE:Revisiting Texas vs. Texas A&M in 2011
7. Dabo Swinney, Clemson
Average salary: $11,447,025
Dabo Swinney has been around at Clemson for quite some time, taking over in 2008 and never letting his position go. His most recent extension was a reported deal worth $115 million that takes him through the 2031 season.
Swinney has led the Tigers to two national titles and nine ACC titles, also owning three Paul "Bear" Bryant awards for Coach of the Year.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMORE: Why are LSU and Clemson both called 'Death Valley'?
8. Steve Sarkisian, Texas
Average salary: $10,800,000
In 2021, Steve Sarkisian was named the 31st head coach in Texas football history, his first SEC head coaching job after previous roles at Washington and USC. In 2024, the Longhorns then gave Sarkisian an extension.
Under his current reported deal, Sarkisian's annual salary went rom $10.4 million to $10.8 million, and it runs through the 2031 season. He's led the Longhorns to one CFP appearance and one Big 12 title thus far.
MORE: Inside Arch Manning's high school career
9. Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri
Eli Drinkwitz-112021-GETTY-FTRAverage salary: $10,750,000
Eli Drinkwitz has been at Missouri since 2020, when he left Arkansas State after one strong season. He then signed a handful of extensions with the Tigers, including a deal just before the end of the 2025 season, and is under contract through the 2031 season.
Drinkwitz's average salary jumped to $10.75 million with his 2025 extension, preventing him from becoming a top candidate for high-profile jobs in a busy coaching carousel.
MORE:Why did Beau Pribula transfer from Penn State to Missouri?
10. Dan Lanning, Oregon
Average salary: $10,400,000
Oregon joining the Big Ten in 2024 has not slowed down Dan Lanning, who became the Ducks' head coach in December 2021 on a reported six-year, $29.1 million contract. In March 2025, Lanning and Oregon reportedly agreed to a new deal that takes him through the 2030 season and pays him over $10 million per year.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Ducks won the Big Ten title in 2024 under Lanning, also claiming a perfect 12-0 record in the regular season.
MORE: Revisiting Dan Lanning's playing career
11. Kalen DeBoer, Alabama
Average salary: $10,250,000
Filling some massive shoes at Alabama, Kalen DeBoer took over for Nick Saban in 2024. He reportedly inked an eight-year deal worth $87 million, and it includes bonuses for accolades like CFP appearances or Coach of the Year awards.
DeBoer is under contract with the Crimson Tide through 2031.
MORE: Ranking the 16 greatest Alabama players of all time
12. Bill Belichick, North Carolina
2025 salary: $10,100,000
While Bill Belichick is most well-known for his NFL accomplishments, he surprisingly pivoted over to college football in 2025, aiming to lead North Carolina to success. The Tar Heels heavily invested in their head coach, signing him to a reported five-year, $50 million contract. Per AP, only the first three years are guaranteed with $10 million per year in base and supplemental salary, with another $3.5 million available in bonuses.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementA six-time Super Bowl champion as a head coach, Belichick immediately became one of the highest-paid coaches in college football following his career change.
MORE: What is Bill Belichick's net worth?
13. Josh Heupel, Tennessee
Getty Images
Average salary: $9,000,000
Tennessee has had Josh Heupel on the headset since January 2021, and he was previously at UCF. Heupel is currently on a deal that takes him through January 2030.
An extension in 2023 pushed the coach's annual salary to $9 million, while the latest extension takes him another year with the Vols. Tennessee made the first 12-team CFP under Heupel in 2024.
MORE: Revisiting Lee Corso's 1999 perfect "GameDay' headgear record
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement14. Deion Sanders, Colorado
Average salary: $8,975,000
"Coach Prime" made some noise by heading to Colorado in December 2022, and he's enjoyed enough success with the Buffaloes to earn an extension. In 2025, he landed a five-year, $54 million contract extension that put him among the highest-paid coaches in the country.
Deion Sanders is scheduled to remain with the Buffaloes through the 2029 season.
MORE:Meet Colorado's star-studded 2025 coaching staff
15. Matt Rhule, Nebraska
Matt Rhule© Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images
Average salary: $8,500,000
Matt Rhule joined the Nebraska Cornhuskers in 2022. He signed a reported eight-year, $74-million contract to lead the program.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementRhule, the former coach at Temple and Baylor, only trails Day, Riley and Lanning among the highest-paid Big 10 coaches. He was recently given an extension, which puts his Nebraska contract through 2032.
MORE: Explaining Dylan Raiola's "Baby Mahomes" nickname
16. James Franklin, Virginia Tech
Average salary: $8,375,000
After receiving a hefty buyout from Penn State, James Franklin didn't take long to find a new home, latching on at Virginia Tech on a deal that will pay him an average of $8.375 million annually over five years.
Franklin was a consistent winner overall with the Nittany Lions, but he struggled to win big games and saw the wheels fall off in 2025 before his midseason firing. Virginia Tech comes with a much lower profile than Penn State, and the Hokies believe Franklin is the right leader to guide them back to prominence in an ACC that has been wide open since conference expansion took hold.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement17. Mario Cristobal, Miami
Mario Cristobal(Jasen Vinlove/USA TODAY NETWORK)
Average salary: $8,302,883
In 2021, Mario Cristobal replaced Manny Diaz at Miami on a significant 10-year, $80 million deal.
The Hurricanes have steadily improved since he took over. Cristobal won two national championships with the Hurricanes as a player in 1989 and 1991.
MORE: Does Miami or Florida State have more all-time NFL players?
18. Bret Bielema, Illinois
Bret Bielema Illinois, Minnesota© Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
Average salary: $8,200,000
Now coaching his third different college program, Bret Bielema most recently signed a six-year extension at Illinois in 2025. He's booked with the Illini through 2031.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBielema is also eligible for four one-year extensions if performance benchmarks are met, per ESPN, with retention incentives that would start at $700,000 and increase each year.
MORE:Bret Bielema's full career timeline
19. Shane Beamer, South Carolina
Average salary: $8,150,000
Shane Beamer became South Carolina's head coach in 2020, and he signed an extension with the Gamecocks in 2025.
Now under contract at South Carolina through 2030, Beamer is set to earn $100,000 raises annually, according to ESPN. He was originally set to make $6.6 million in 2025 before his new deal.
MORE:Complete history of Lee Corso's College GameDay headgear picks
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement20. Luke Fickell, Wisconsin
Average salary: $7,825,000
Wisconsin hired Luke Fickell in 2022 after his run at Cincinnati. He has since received multiple one-year extensions since the seven-year deal he originally signed, which pays him an average of $7.8 million annually.
Currently, Fickell is under contract with the Badgers through the 2031 season.
21. Jedd Fisch, Washington
© Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
Average salary: $7,575,024
Jedd Fisch replaced Kalen DeBoer at Washington, taking a seven-year contract at around a reported $7.75 million annually.
Fisch went 6-7 in his first year with the Huskies, who also joined the Big Ten that 2024 season. He previously coached at UCLA and Arizona.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMORE:Complete list of Heisman Trophy winners by year
22. Brent Venables, Oklahoma
Brent Venables(Getty Images)
Average salary: $7,552,750
Brett Venables' lone head coaching job has come at Oklahoma, where he had already spent plenty of years as an assistant when he was named head coach in 2021. In 2024, the Sooners signed Venables to an extension.
In that extension, Venables got a raise to over $8.5 million on an annual basis, per ESPN, with a total value of $51.6 million over six years. He's booked in Norman through the 2029 season.
MORE: Why did Jackson Arnold transfer from Oklahoma to Auburn?
23. Jon Sumrall, Florida
Average salary: $7,450,000
Tulane's Jon Sumrall was a sought-after name in the coaching carousel that gripped college football at the end of the 2025 season, and he ultimately made the jump from the AAC to the SEC by joining Florida on a six-year deal that pays a reported $7.45 million annually.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSumrall went 42-11 as a head coach between stops at Troy and Tulane, earning double-digit wins in three of four seasons. The former Kentucky and Ole Miss assistant arrived in Gainesville with high expectations as the Gators look to rise back into the ranks of the SEC's elite.
24. Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State
Kenny DillinghamUSA Today
Average salary: $7,442,000
Kenny Dillingham has found early success at Arizona State, his first head coaching role. After joining the program as head coach in November 2022, Dillingham led the Sun Devils to a CFP appearance by the 2024 season after a 3-9 2023 campaign.
In January 2025, Dillingham then earned a contract extension that increased his salary from $4.1 million to $5.8 million, per ESPN, and it takes him through 2029. The contract also reportedly includes one-year extensions and raises for reaching certain benchmarks, with up to a $450,000 increase for an 11-win season.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMORE: How does NIL work in college football?
25. Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame
Average salary: $7,421,201
When Brian Kelly left Notre Dame for LSU, Marcus Freeman stepped in for the Fighting Irish, becoming the 32nd head coach in program history.
Most recently, Freeman signed a reported extension that runs through the 2030 season and paid more than $9 million on an annual basis.
MORE: Explaining Notre Dame's history of independent status
26. Alex Golesh, Auburn
2025 salary: $7,4000,000
Auburn made Alex Golesh its next head coach the day after its 2025 season ended, hiring the Russian-born coach away from USF after three seasons on a deal that pays him $7.4 million annually.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementGolesh guided the Bulls to three winning seasons after taking over the program during a down period, winning nine games in 2025, and he made the jump to the SEC to take over an Auburn program that had not had a winning season since 2020.
MORE: College football's 30 highest-paid players in 2025
27. Pat Narduzzi, Pittsburgh
© Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Average salary: $7,259,909
Pitt has had Pat Narduzzi at the helm of its football program since 2015, going on a decade with the head coach. He signed an extension in 2022 after an 11-win season for the Panthers.
Narduzzi's extension runs through the 2030 season, and he now reportedly ranks among the highest-paid ACC coaches.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMORE: The best two-way players in NFL history
28. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa
Kirk Ferentz© Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
2025 salary: $7,175,000
Since 1999, Kirk Ferentz has been strolling Iowa's sidelines. He's scheduled to remain with the Hawkeyes into his 70s, as his contract runs through the 2029 season and into January 2030.
The 2025 season is Ferentz's 27th as Iowa's head coach, and in June 2025, he reportedly agreed to an amended deal that paid him around $175,000 more per year, with bonuses for a top-six Big Ten finish, making the Big Ten title game and more, per the Des Moines Register.
MORE:Oldest players drafted in NFL history
29. Sonny Dykes, TCU
Sonny DykesGetty
2025 salary: $7,036,013
Another longtime head coach on this list, Sonny Dykes has been at TCU since November 2021. He most recently signed an extension through the 2028 season, which was agreed to in 2022.
Partially due to his successful debut 2022 season with the Horned Frogs, Dykes ranks among the highest-paid Big 12 coaches.
MORE: College football's overtime rules, explained
30. P.J. Fleck, Minnesota
2025 salary: $7,000,000
Wrapping up the top-30 highest-paid coaches is Minnesota's P.J. Fleck, who makes a reported $7 million in 2025. In July 2025, the Gophers extended Fleck's deal through the 2030 season.
Fleck has been at Minnesota since 2017, winning six total bowl games in that period.
MORE: What is targeting in college football?
AdvertisementAdvertisement
