Highest Paid College Football Coaches in 2022

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Georgia Bulldogs Football Coach Kirby Smart
(AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Anatoly Pimentel @AnatolyPimentel May 09, 2022, 5:33 PM

Being a head coach and hoping to attain the best college football championship odds can be a high-paying position. 

Getting compensated to lead a team to further greatness and improve odds to win the College Football Playoff is not as easy as it looks. This is why it takes a school to shell out millions of dollars for their coach’s payroll.

Lincoln Riley

Spearheading the highest-paid college football coaches list is USC’s newly-minted head coach Lincoln Riley, who made a move from Oklahoma. His estimated salary is over $10 million, but some details are undisclosed.

Riley became one of the most sought-after coaches in the collegiate ranks after accumulating a 55-10 record. He coached two recent No. 1 NFL Draft picks, Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray.

Nick Saban

How much would you earn when you are the greatest college football coach? Well, you can ask Nick Saban in this case. 

The Alabama head coach is set to make roughly $9.8 million. This is his 15th year with Alabama, and he’s won six national championships in his tenure. His contract is good through 2028.

Brian Kelly

One of the season’s surprises is the exit of long-time Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly from the program. Kelly signed a huge deal to be LSU’s head tactician and various reports state that it is a 10-year contract worth $100 million. This is the reason why he is the third highest-paid college coach in football today.

During his 12-year run with the Fighting Irish, Kelly collected an impressive record of 113 wins and 40 losses. In the process, he became one of the most desired head coaches in football.

Here’s a look at the top-ten list of the highest-paid college football coaches in 2022, according to Sportsnaut.

NameSchoolSalary
Lincoln RileyUSC$10-plus million (estimated)
Brian KellyLSU$9.5 million
Nick SabanAlabama$9.75 million
Mel TuckerMichigan State$9.5 million
David ShawStanford$8.925 million
Dabo SwinneyClemson$8.37 million
Mario CristobalMiami$8 million
Jimbo FisherTexas A&M$7.5 million
Lane KiffinOle Miss$7.25 million
Kirby SmartGeorgia$7.133 million +$850,000 bonus

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About the Author

Anatoly Pimentel

Read More @AnatolyPimentel

Anatoly Pimentel is an NBA and MMA writer previously featured in ASEAN Sports, Asian Persuasion MMA, and Overtime Heroics MMA. He graduated from Adamson University with a B.A in Communication and is a Web Content Writer for BetMGM.

Anatoly Pimentel is an NBA and MMA writer previously featured in ASEAN Sports, Asian Persuasion MMA, and Overtime Heroics MMA. He graduated from Adamson University with a B.A in Communication and is a Web Content Writer for BetMGM.