Being the head football coach at a place like Ohio State comes with a lot of criticism but also a ton of benefits. Perhaps the main one, of course, is the compensation at a place that isn’t afraid to back the BRINKS truck up to try and compete with the best of the best.
And while head coach Ryan Day’s original compensation package wasn’t among the best in college football, as he’s had success on and off the field, the dollar signs have grown to where he now is.
Buy Buckeyes TicketsOne thing we look forward to on an annual basis is the head coaches salary database released by out mothership, USA TODAY. We just received it earlier this week and it’s interesting to see how coaching salaries compare not only across the country, but within the Big Ten.
Day is up there when comparing both, but for purposes of what we’re ranking here, we are going to look at his salary among his peers in the conference. How does he rank when comparing with guys like Jim Harbaugh at Michigan, James Franklin at Penn State, and Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz?
Before we get started, it must be noted that David Braun at Northwestern is not included because of the institution being a private university and not subject to disclosing the salary of its coaches. Also, Mel Tucker is still included in the list to compare against, but he is obviously no longer employed as Michigan State’s head coach.
So, that leaves us with a ranking of 13 of the 14 coaches in the Big Ten based on what has been disclosed
And. Here. We. Go.
13
No. 12 (tie) - Greg Schiano, Rutgers
Inside the Numbers
Total Pay | $4,000,000
School Pay | $4,000,000
Maximum Bonus | $1,600,000
Actual Bonus | $25,000
National Ranking | 50
12
No. 12 (tie) - Ryan Walters, Purdue
Inside the Numbers
Total Pay | $4,000,000
School Pay | $4,000,000
Maximum Bonus | $1,020,000
Actual Bonus | N/A
National Ranking | 49
11
No. 11 - Tom Allen, Indiana
Inside the Numbers
Total Pay | $4,510,000
School Pay | $4,510,000
Maximum Bonus | $750,000
Actual Bonus | $0
National Ranking | 39
10
No. 9 (tie) - Mike Locksley, Maryland
Inside the Numbers
Total Pay | $5,500,000
School Pay | $5,500,000
Maximum Bonus | $1,525,000
Actual Bonus | $220,000
National Ranking | 34
9
No. 9 (tie) - Matt Rhule, Nebraska
Inside the Numbers
Total Pay | $5,500,000
School Pay | $5,500,000
Maximum Bonus | $950,000
Actual Bonus | N/A
National Ranking | 33
8
No. 8 - P.J. Fleck, Minnesota
Inside the Numbers
Total Pay | $6,000,000
School Pay | $6,000,000
Maximum Bonus | $1,550,000
Actual Bonus | $450,000
National Ranking | 26
7
No. 7 - Bret Bielema, Illinois
Inside the Numbers
Total Pay | $6,500,000
School Pay | $6,500,000
Maximum Bonus | $1,600,000
Actual Bonus | $425,000
National Ranking | 21
6
No. 6 - Kirk Ferentz, Iowa
Inside the Numbers
Total Pay | $7,000,000
School Pay | $7,000,000
Maximum Bonus | $2,500,000
Actual Bonus | $200,000
National Ranking | 18
5
No. 5 - Luke Fickell, Wisconsin
Inside the Numbers
Total Pay | $7,625,000
School Pay | $7,625,000
Maximum Bonus | $1,450,000
Actual Bonus | N/A
National Ranking | 13
4
No. 4 - Jim Harbaugh, Michigan
Inside the Numbers
Total Pay | $8,254,600
School Pay | $8,194,000
Maximum Bonus | $3,275,000
Actual Bonus | $2,200,000
National Ranking | 12
3
No. 3 - James Franklin, Penn State
Inside the Numbers
Total Pay | $8,500,000
School Pay | $8,500,000
Maximum Bonus | $1,400,000
Actual Bonus | $300,000
National Ranking | 11
2
No. 2 - Mel Tucker, Michigan State (no longer with the program)
Inside the Numbers
Total Pay | $10,015,350
School Pay | $10,015,350
Maximum Bonus | $1,550,000
Actual Bonus | $0
National Ranking | 5
1
No. 1 - Ryan Day, Ohio State
Inside the Numbers
Total Pay | $10,271,250
School Pay | $10,196,250
Maximum Bonus | $800,000
Actual Bonus | $250,000
National Ranking | 4
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