As the 2025 college football coaching carousel revs up following the conclusion of the regular season, it’s a prime opportunity to delve into the financial landscape of the sport. With many programs on the hunt for the next rising star in coaching, evaluating the return on investment for assistant coaches in 2024 is more relevant than ever.
Top earners in college football coaching
USA Today has recently updated its list of the highest-paid assistant coaches, showcasing a mix of fresh talent and seasoned veterans. Leading the pack is Blake Baker, the new defensive coordinator for LSU, who commands a staggering salary of $2.5 million per year. This places him just ahead of Wink Martindale, who transitioned from the NFL to become Michigan’s defensive coordinator, earning $2.3 million in his inaugural college season.
Defensive coordinators making waves
Baker’s first season in Baton Rouge has been nothing short of transformative. After a challenging 2023 where the Tigers’ defense ranked second-to-last in the SEC, Baker orchestrated a remarkable turnaround. By the end of the regular season, LSU’s defense improved significantly, finishing 11th in the 16-team league and allowing an average of 352.5 yards per game, a notable drop from the 416.6 ypg they allowed the previous season.
Martindale, with two decades of NFL experience under his belt, faced his own challenges at Michigan. In 2024, his defense took a slight step back, finishing eighth in the Big Ten and allowing an average of 310.9 yards per game and 20.5 points per game. This was a decline from their impressive performance in 2023, where they led the conference with just 10.4 ppg and 247 ypg.
Ohio State’s defensive prowess
Not to be outdone, Ohio State’s defensive coordinator, earning $2.2 million, has proven his worth. In his second year, he led the Buckeyes to become the Big Ten’s top-ranked defensive unit, limiting opponents to just 10.9 points and 241.1 yards per game. This performance solidified his reputation as one of the best in the business.
Meanwhile, Ole Miss‘s defensive coordinator, with a salary of $2.15 million, has also made headlines. After leaving Alabama, he has successfully turned around the Rebels’ defense, finishing the regular season as the SEC’s second-best scoring defense, allowing just 13.9 points and 313.8 yards per game.
Offensive coordinators stepping up
On the offensive side, Ohio State’s offensive coordinator, who took over playcalling duties from head coach Ryan Day, is making waves with a salary of $2 million. In his first season, he led the Buckeyes to average 423.5 yards and 35.5 points per game, both significant improvements from the previous year.
Over at Utah, offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig is earning $2.05 million. However, the Utes’ offense struggled in its first season in the Big 12, ranking in the bottom three of the league with an average of 23.6 points and 329.8 yards per game. This performance mirrored their previous year’s stats in the Pac-12, where they averaged 23.2 ppg and 348.4 ypg.
Defensive coordinators with mixed results
As we look further down the list, Florida State’s defensive coordinator, earning $2.015 million, faced a tumultuous season. Following a dismal 1-9 start, he was let go by head coach Mike Norvell. The Seminoles’ defense struggled mightily, ranking 14th in the ACC and allowing an average of 385.9 yards per game.
In contrast, Georgia’s defensive coordinator, who earns $2.003 million, has seen a decline in performance as well. After three consecutive seasons as the SEC’s top defense, his unit ranked seventh in points allowed, averaging 20.4 ppg and ninth in total yards with 336.5 ypg.
More notable salaries in the coaching ranks
The list of high earners continues with Utah’s defensive coordinator, who also earns $2 million, maintaining the team’s defensive dominance in the Big 12. The Utes ranked second in scoring defense with 20.7 ppg and third in total defense at 329.7 ypg.
Other notable salaries include Oregon’s defensive coordinator at $1.9 million, who led a solid Ducks defense in its first Big Ten season, and Phil Parker from Iowa, earning $1.9 million as well.
Check out the full list
Curious about who else made the list? Here’s a snapshot of some of the top salaries among college football’s assistant coaches:
- 11. Phil Parker, Iowa defensive coordinator: $1.9 million
- 12. Pete Kwiatkowski, Texas defensive coordinator: $1.8 million
- 13. Garrett Riley, Clemson offensive coordinator: $1.75 million
- 14. Brad White, Kentucky defensive coordinator: $1.75 million
- 15. Charlie Weis Jr., Ole Miss offensive coordinator: $1.65 million
As the coaching carousel spins and programs seek the best talent, the financial stakes continue to rise in college football. The question remains: are these hefty salaries translating into success on the field? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure—college football is as thrilling and unpredictable as ever!
