There’s no better job in America than a fired college head football coach. Don’t believe me, just look at the buyout numbers.
From the 2022 season, schools dished out a combined $56.7 million for five Power Five head coaches that were fired during and after the football season.
- Scott Frost, Nebraska Cornhuskers ($15 million buyout)
- Karl Dorell, Colorado Buffaloes ($11.4 million buyout)
- Geoff Collins, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets ($11.3 million buyout)
- Paul Chryst, Wisconsin Badgers ($11 million buyout)
- Herm Edwards, Arizona State Sun Devils ($8 million buyout)
It was even worse when you look at the head coaches that were bought out prior to the 2022 season, including 2019 national champion Ed Oregon. One other coach that was fired and ultimately settled on a severance package was TCU head coach Gary Patterson.
According to Steve Berkowitz of USA TODAY Sports, Patterson received almost $11.5 million in a separation payment.
The new tax record states that Patterson received a “lump sum (separation) payment of $11,449,656” in 2021. The document did not address whether he was to receive additional payments in 2022 or beyond. On Wednesday, a university spokesperson confirmed that it was a one-time payment that was not recurring.
Patterson’s total pay for the 2021 season exceeded $17 million.
The document – provided by the school on Tuesday in response to a request from USA TODAY Sports – showed that Patterson’s total compensation for the 2021 calendar year was just over $17.2 million.
Patterson coached at TCU from 1998 to 2021. He was promoted from defensive coordinator and safeties coach prior to the 2000 season. Patterson was largely responsible for putting the Horned Frogs on the national scene and getting them an invitation to the Big 12 when TCU and West Virginia joined in 2012.
Patterson was 181-79 with TCU and won five total conference titles with Conference USA, the Mountain West, and the Big 12. TCU won the 2010 Rose Bowl and finished No. 2 overall with a spotless 13-0 record.
The school ultimately hired Sonny Dykes to take over the program for the 2022 season. He took Patterson’s players and made a run to the College Football Playoff’s national championship game.
Getting paid over $17 million to coach part of a season would be an opportunity that a lot of people would sign up for.
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