Earlier this week, the USA TODAY Sports coaches’ salary database was updated to reflect the salaries of each FBS head coach for the 2023 season.
In the Big Ten, there are not too many surprises in the database, especially at the top. Leading the way in the Big Ten is Ohio State’s Ryan Day, one of four active head coaches to be bringing in over $10 million per season.
Former Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker who was recently fired from the job ranked fifth this season in the nation prior to his firing at an even $10 million. Penn State’s James Franklin, Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh, and Wisconsin’s Luke Fickell round out the top five in the conference and all rank in the top 15 nationally.
The biggest buyout in the conference is held by James Franklin at $64 million, Nebraska’s Luke Fickell who is only making $5.5 million this season, has the second biggest buyout at $62 million.
Notably, only one coach in the Big Ten’s contract is not available in the database, that being Northwestern interim head coach David Braun. Braun took over in July for former Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald, who was fired following the emergence of a hazing scandal surrounding the football program in Evanston.
Check out the full listing for Big Ten head coaches.
| Head Coach | School | FBS Rank | Salary (millions) | Buyout (millions) |
| Ryan Day | Ohio State | 4 | $10.2 | $46.2 |
| Mel Tucker | Michigan State | 5 | $10.0 | – |
| James Franklin | Penn State | 11 | $8.5 | $64.6 |
| Jim Harbaugh | Michigan | 12 | $8.2 | $27.2 |
| Luke Fickell | Wisconsin | 13 | $7.6 | $39.6 |
| Kirk Ferentz | Iowa | 18 | $7.0 | $37 |
| Bret Bielema | Illinois | 21 | $6.5 | $35.7 |
| P.J. Fleck | Minnesota | 26 | $6 | $23.7 |
| Matt Rhule | Nebraska | 33 | $5.5 | $62.0 |
| Mike Locksley | Maryland | 34 | $5.5 | $16.5 |
| Tom Allen | Indiana | 39 | $4.5 | $20.4 |
| Ryan Walters | Purdue | 49 | $4.0 | $12.6 |
| Greg Schiano | Rutgers | 50 | $4.0 | $13.0 |
| David Braun | Northwestern | – | – | – |
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