10 Highest Paid College Football Coaches of 2025
College football is big business. It involves shaping programs, building legacies, and keeping a university’s name on the national stage. And for that, schools are willing to pay top dollar. Coaching at this level means juggling intense expectations, relentless recruiting, and the pressure to deliver year after year. In fact, the biggest coaching contracts show just how much value these leaders bring to their programs. These are some of the highest-paid head coaches in college football, along with one assistant who’s making history.
Kirby Smart, Georgia – $13.28 Million

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No one should be surprised that Kirby Smart sits atop the coaching salary rankings. He took Georgia from “always in the mix” to a full-fledged dynasty by winning two national titles and making the Bulldogs the most feared team in the SEC. His recruiting machine is second to none, and his defenses have set the gold standard for modern college football.
Dabo Swinney, Clemson – $11.13 Million

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A few years ago, Dabo Swinney had Clemson locked in as the biggest powerhouse outside the SEC with multiple national titles, a steady pipeline to the NFL, and an unmistakable culture of success. But the last couple of seasons have been rocky. Clemson isn’t falling apart, but they’re no longer the unstoppable force they were when Trevor Lawrence and Deshaun Watson were under center. Swinney’s still being paid like a top-tier coach, but there’s pressure to get back to the mountaintop.
Steve Sarkisian, Texas – $10.6 Million

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Texas hasn’t been the same since the Vince Young era, but there’s a sense that Steve Sarkisian is finally bringing the Longhorns back to national relevance. The move to the SEC means the challenge is about to get tougher, but Texas has deep pockets and a fan base that won’t accept mediocrity.
Lincoln Riley, USC – $10.04 Million

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USC wanted a superstar coach to bring them back to national prominence, and they got one in Lincoln Riley. Offensively, his teams have been electric. But the issue has always been defense. Riley’s bringing in elite quarterbacks year after year, but if USC wants to truly contend for a national title, the Trojans need to figure out how to stop somebody.
Ryan Day, Ohio State – $10.02 Million

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Ryan Day inherited one of the most stable programs in the country and has done a solid job keeping Ohio State in the national conversation. But in Columbus, anything short of a national title feels like a disappointment. Losing to Michigan two years in a row hasn’t helped his case, and while his paycheck remains among the highest, the expectation is clear: Ohio State needs to be the last team standing in January.
Mike Norvell, Florida State – $10 Million

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It wasn’t long ago that Florida State looked lost, struggling to find an identity, post-Jimbo Fisher. Mike Norvell breathed some life back into the Seminoles by leading them to an ACC championship in 2023. However, the 2024 season saw a dramatic decline, with FSU finishing 2–10, their worst record since 1974. Following this, Norvell agreed to restructure his contract by contributing $4.5 million of his 2025 salary to support the university’s “Vision of Excellence” fundraising campaign, effectively reducing his 2025 salary to $5.4 million.
Kalen DeBoer, Alabama – $10 Million

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Taking over for Nick Saban is stepping into one of the most scrutinized roles in sports. Kalen DeBoer has the impossible task of following the greatest coach in college football history. In his inaugural season (2024), DeBoer led Alabama to a 9–4 record. While this performance is commendable, it falls short of the program’s national championship expectations.
Bill Belichick, UNC – $10 Million

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Yes, Bill Belichick is back in the college game. After his legendary NFL career, he’s taking a completely unexpected turn as the head coach of North Carolina. His defensive genius is unquestioned, but adapting to the college game—especially recruiting—will be a whole new challenge. UNC is swinging big with this hire, and at $10 million a year, they’re betting that Belichick can turn the Tar Heels into something special.
Brian Kelly, LSU – $9.98 Million

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Brian Kelly’s move from Notre Dame to LSU was one of the biggest coaching shake-ups in recent memory. The first year had its ups and downs, but LSU fans expect national championships, not just respectable seasons. The Tigers have had a history of elite coaches—Nick Saban, Les Miles, and Ed Orgeron all won national championships at LSU. Now, it’s Kelly’s turn to prove he can do the same.
Mark Stoops, Kentucky – $9.01 Million

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Kentucky football doesn’t usually make national headlines, but Mark Stoops has changed that. He’s built a tough, competitive program in a conference that usually swallows teams like Kentucky whole. The Wildcats aren’t Alabama or Georgia, but they’re consistently relevant—and that’s why Stoops is one of the highest-paid coaches in the game.
Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss – $9 Million

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There are few coaches in college football more entertaining than Lane Kiffin. Kiffin knows how to stay in the spotlight, and he’s a man of multiple talents; he’s running high-powered offenses, stirring the pot on Twitter, or keeping Ole Miss in the thick of the SEC race. His aggressive fourth-down decisions and up-tempo attack have made the Rebels a tough opponent, and his ability to develop quarterbacks—most recently with Jaxson Dart—has kept Ole Miss in the national spotlight.
James Franklin, Penn State – $8.5 Million

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James Franklin has kept Penn State a top-tier program. However, the challenge remains the same: breaking through the Ohio State-Michigan wall. While Franklin’s teams have pulled off impressive wins, including a Big Ten Championship in 2016, the Nittany Lions have struggled to consistently beat their biggest rivals. The program is often in the mix for a College Football Playoff spot, but falling short in crucial matchups has kept them from reaching the ultimate goal.
Dan Lanning, Oregon – $8.2 Million

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Oregon has always had the flash, the exciting offense, and of course, its ever-changing, flashy uniforms backed by Nike. Since taking over in 2022, Lanning has infused the Ducks with a more physical, defensive-minded approach while maintaining the explosive offensive identity. His recruiting has been among the best in the Pac-12 (soon to be Big Ten), an area where Oregon has sometimes fallen short in the past.
Luke Fickell, Wisconsin – $7.7 Million

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Wisconsin has long been a model of consistency, but Luke Fickell’s hire signals that they want to go beyond that. The former Cincinnati coach brings a defensive-minded approach that should fit right into the Big Ten. Fickell arrives in Madison after a highly successful tenure at Cincinnati, where he turned the Bearcats into a Group of Five powerhouses and led them to the College Football Playoff in 2021—the first non-Power Five team ever to make it that far.
Jim Knowles, Penn State – $3.1 Million (Highest Paid Coordinator)

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It’s rare for an assistant coach to make headlines for his salary, but Jim Knowles is the exception. His $3.1 million annual deal makes him the highest-paid defensive coordinator in the sport. Penn State clearly believes his defensive schemes can be the difference between contending and winning it all.