I once read that no occupation in America has less job security than a college football head coach. Look at Tennessee. The Volunteers are on their fifth head coach since 2009. Florida’s is on its fourth. But the risk of being fired after just a year or two does not outweigh the reward — millions of dollars to coach college football.
Using USA TODAY’s coaching salary database, SportsNaut compiled a list of the highest paid college football coaches for the 2023 season, taking into account new contracts that have been signed already this offseason.
The SEC now has five coaches ranking in the top-10 nationally in salary. Georgia’s Kirby Smart, fresh off of his second consecutive national championship, ranks second in the SEC with a salary of $11.3 million.
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel cashed in on Tuesday with an extension through the 2028 season that will pay him $9 million annually.