It just pays more: seven of college football’s ten highest-paid coaches reside in the Southeastern Conference.
Georgia football head coach Kirby Smart has won back-to-back national championships, but he is not college football’s highest-paid coach for 2023. Smart does have the highest buyout of any college football coach by over $15 million. We don’t think he’s going anywhere anytime soon.
Five college coaches received over $10 million in compensation for 2023. All income, buyout, and bonus compensation data is courtesy of USA TODAY Sports.
Who are college football’s 10 highest paid head coaches for the 2023 season (public institutions only)? Where does Georgia football’s Kirby Smart rank?
10
Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss
- Total pay: $9,000,000
- School buyout: N/A
- 2022-2023 bonuses paid: $450,000
9
Josh Heupel, Tennessee
- Total pay: $9,000,000
- School buyout: $46,500,000
- 2022-2023 bonuses paid: $400,000
8
Mark Stoops, Kentucky
- Total pay: $9,013,600
- School buyout: $51,187,500
- 2022-2023 bonuses paid: $150,000
7
Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M
- Total pay: $9,150,000
- School buyout: $77,562,500
- 2022-2023 bonuses paid: $0
6
Brian Kelly, LSU
- Total pay: $9,975,000
- School buyout: $70,018,333
- 2022-2023 bonuses paid: $575,000
5
Mel Tucker, Michigan State
- Total pay: $10,015,350
- School buyout: N/A
- 2022-2023 bonuses paid: $0
4
Ryan Day, Ohio State
- Total pay: $10,196,250
- School buyout: $46,222,292
- 2022-2023 bonuses paid: $250,000
3
Kirby Smart, Georgia Bulldogs
- Total pay: $10,505,600
- School buyout: $92,625,000
- 2022-2023 bonuses paid: $1,350,000
2
Dabo Swinney, Clemson
- Total pay: $10,884,775
- School buyout: $64,000,000
- 2022-2023 bonuses paid: $500,000
1
Nick Saban, Alabama
- Total pay: $11,107,000
- School buyout: $44,800,000
- 2022-2023 bonuses paid: $300,000
All salary data is per USA TODAY Sports. Not included in the data are private institutions like USC, Notre Dame, and Northwestern.
