2021 edition of highest-paid NCAA Division I FBS head coaches
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| Rank | Coach | School | Total Pay | Conf. | Scheduled School Pay | Contract Year Pandemic Reduction | Actual School Pay | Total Pandemic Reduction | School Buyout |
| as of 12/1/2021 | |||||||||
| 1 | Nick Saban | Alabama | $9,753,221* | SEC | $9,500,000 | $0* | $9,500,000 | $0* | $38,400,000 |
| 2 | Ed Orgeron | Louisiana State | $9,012,917* | SEC | $8,687,500 | $300,000* | $8,387,500 | $300,000* | $17,150,000 |
| 3 | David Shaw | Stanford | $8,924,683* | Pac-12 | $8,924,683 | $0* | $8,924,683 | $0* | — |
| 4 | Dabo Swinney | Clemson | $8,370,775* | ACC | $9,508,575 | $1,250,000* | $8,258,575 | $1,250,000* | $47,500,000 |
| 5 | Lincoln Riley | Oklahoma | $7,672,710* | Big 12 | $7,857,293 | $214,583* | $7,642,710 | $515,000* | $25,188,000 |
| 6 | Dan Mullen | Florida | $7,570,000* | SEC | $7,570,000 | $0* | $7,570,000 | $0* | $12,000,000 |
| 7 | Jimbo Fisher | Texas A&M | $7,500,000* | SEC | $7,500,000 | $0* | $7,500,000 | $0* | $95,575,000 |
| 8 | Kirby Smart | Georgia | $7,133,600 | SEC | $7,003,600 | — | $7,003,600 | — | $14,614,167 |
| 9 | Ryan Day | Ohio State | $6,614,693* | Big Ten | $6,750,000 | $135,307* | $6,614,693 | $236,877* | $28,416,668 |
| 10 | Gary Patterson | Texas Christian | $6,103,543 | Big 12 | $6,103,543 | — | $6,103,543 | — | — |
| 11 | Pat Fitzgerald | Northwestern | $5,748,179 | Big Ten | $5,748,179 | — | $5,748,179 | — | — |
| 12 | Chip Kelly | UCLA | $5,600,000* | Pac-12 | $5,600,000 | $0* | $5,600,000 | $0* | $9,000,000 |
| 13 | Mel Tucker | Michigan State | $5,566,303* | Big Ten | $5,632,553 | $166,250* | $5,466,303 | $266,000* | $19,284,375 |
| 14 | Steve Sarkisian | Texas | $5,450,000* | Big 12 | $5,450,000 | $0* | $5,450,000 | $0* | $20,603,333 |
| 15 | Mark Stoops | Kentucky | $5,263,600 | SEC | $5,250,000 | — | $5,250,000 | — | $19,921,875 |
| 16 | Kyle Whittingham | Utah | $5,200,000* | Pac-12 | $5,200,000 | $0* | $5,200,000 | $365,822* | $18,250,000 |
| 17 | Scott Frost | Nebraska | $5,000,000* | Big Ten | $5,000,000 | $0* | $5,000,000 | $166,667* | $20,416,667 |
| 18 | Kirk Ferentz | Iowa | $5,000,000* | Big Ten | $5,000,000 | $0* | $5,000,000 | $100,000* | $16,503,333 |
| 19 | Bryan Harsin | Auburn | $5,000,000 | SEC | $5,000,000 | — | $5,000,000 | — | $17,791,667 |
| 20 | Mike Leach | Mississippi State | $5,000,000* | SEC | $5,000,000 | $0* | $5,000,000 | $0* | — |
| 21 | Lane Kiffin | Mississippi | $4,841,937* | SEC | $5,000,000 | $158,063* | $4,841,937 | $293,813* | — |
| 22 | Pat Narduzzi | Pittsburgh | $4,816,806 | ACC | $4,816,806 | — | $4,816,806 | — | — |
| 23 | Clay Helton | Southern California | $4,813,832* | Pac-12 | $4,813,832 | $0* | $4,813,832 | $0* | — |
| 24 | P.J. Fleck | Minnesota | $4,420,000* | Big Ten | $4,650,000 | $230,000* | $4,420,000 | $548,320* | $15,851,875 |
| 25 | Jeff Brohm | Purdue | $4,417,774* | Big Ten | $5,000,000 | $582,226* | $4,417,774 | $873,340* | $18,966,667 |
| 26 | Mario Cristobal | Oregon | $4,402,917* | Pac-12 | $4,600,000 | $197,083* | $4,402,917 | $360,208* | $15,030,000 |
| 27 | Paul Chryst | Wisconsin | $4,362,750* | Big Ten | $4,650,000 | $321,250* | $4,328,750 | $751,250* | $19,103,724 |
| 28 | Tom Allen | Indiana | $4,260,000* | Big Ten | $4,310,000 | $50,000* | $4,260,000 | $50,000* | $30,000,000 |
| 29 | Bronco Mendenhall | Virginia | $4,251,500* | ACC | $4,250,000 | $0* | $4,250,000 | $264,794* | $13,281,250 |
| 30 | Mike Gundy | Oklahoma State | $4,203,125* | Big 12 | $4,375,000 | $171,875* | $4,203,125 | $263,021* | $7,119,792 |
| 31 | Bret Bielema | Illinois | $4,200,000 | Big Ten | $4,200,000 | — | $4,200,000 | — | $15,138,425 |
| 32 | Jim Harbaugh | Michigan | $4,030,901* | Big Ten | $4,000,000 | $0* | $4,000,000 | $264,687* | $4,444,444 |
| 33 | Dana Holgorsen | Houston | $4,000,000* | AAC | $4,000,000 | $0* | $4,000,000 | $190,000* | $5,431,250 |
| 34 | Greg Schiano | Rutgers | $4,000,000* | Big Ten | $4,000,000 | $0* | $4,000,000 | $266,664* | $19,218,750 |
| 35 | Josh Heupel | Tennessee | $4,000,000* | SEC | $4,000,000 | $0* | $4,000,000 | $0* | $20,666,667 |
| 36 | Eliah Drinkwitz | Missouri | $4,000,000* | SEC | $4,000,000 | $0* | $4,000,000 | $100,000* | $11,550,000 |
| 37 | Matt Campbell | Iowa State | $4,000,000* | Big 12 | $4,000,000 | $0* | $4,000,000 | $248,562* | $28,333,333 |
| 38 | Herm Edwards | Arizona State | $3,886,500 | Pac-12 | $3,700,000 | — | $3,700,000 | — | $11,408,333 |
| 39 | Justin Fuente | Virginia Tech | $3,825,000* | ACC | $4,250,000 | $425,000* | $3,825,000 | $425,000* | $10,000,000 |
| 40 | Mike Norvell | Florida State | $3,750,000* | ACC | $4,250,000 | $500,000* | $3,750,000 | $968,750* | $16,220,833 |
| 41 | Dave Clawson | Wake Forest | $3,611,071 | ACC | $3,611,071 | — | $3,611,071 | — | — |
| 42 | Dino Babers | Syracuse | $3,504,958 | ACC | $3,504,958 | — | $3,504,958 | — | — |
| 43 | Justin Wilcox | California | $3,444,996* | Pac-12 | $3,600,000 | $155,004* | $3,444,996 | $228,756* | $16,158,333 |
| 44 | Mack Brown | North Carolina | $3,431,250* | ACC | $2,800,000 | $68,750* | $2,731,250 | $112,500* | $2,406,250 |
| 45 | Luke Fickell | Cincinnati | $3,400,000* | AAC | $3,400,000 | $0* | $3,400,000 | $85,000* | $20,400,000 |
| 46 | Karl Dorrell | Colorado | $3,240,000* | Pac-12 | $3,400,000 | $160,000* | $3,240,000 | $320,000* | $14,800,000 |
| 47 | Dave Doeren | NC State | $3,180,000* | ACC | $3,500,000 | $325,000* | $3,175,000 | $460,417* | $7,656,250 |
| 48 | Scott Satterfield | Louisville | $3,087,500 | ACC | $3,250,000 | $162,500 | $3,087,500 | $325,000 | $7,515,625 |
| 49 | Jimmy Lake | Washington | $3,040,972* | Pac-12 | $3,100,000 | $59,028* | $3,040,972 | $92,088* | $10,416,667 |
| 50 | Matt Wells | Texas Tech | $3,034,083* | Big 12 | $3,100,000 | $65,917* | $3,034,083 | $193,083* | $7,099,601 |
| 51 | Nick Rolovich | Washington State | $3,000,000* | Pac-12 | $3,000,000 | $0* | $3,000,000 | $181,250* | $4,300,000 |
| 52 | Neal Brown | West Virginia | $2,997,500* | Big 12 | $3,155,000 | $157,500* | $2,997,500 | $312,500* | $20,462,500 |
| 53 | David Cutcliffe | Duke | $2,957,001 | ACC | $2,957,001 | — | $2,957,001 | — | — |
| 54 | Sam Pittman | Arkansas | $2,925,000* | SEC | $3,000,000 | $75,000* | $2,925,000 | $175,000* | — |
| 55 | Chris Klieman | Kansas State | $2,915,292* | Big 12 | $3,100,000 | $184,708* | $2,915,292 | $360,750* | $15,493,750 |
| 56 | Geoff Collins | Georgia Tech | $2,883,115* | ACC | $3,200,000 | $317,885* | $2,882,115 | $317,885* | $14,066,667 |
| 57 | Lance Leipold | Kansas | $2,800,000* | Big 12 | $2,800,000 | $0* | $2,800,000 | $0* | $10,651,667 |
| 58 | Shane Beamer | South Carolina | $2,750,000 | SEC | $2,750,000 | — | $2,750,000 | — | $7,298,958 |
| 59 | Jedd Fisch | Arizona | $2,683,449* | Pac-12 | $2,300,000 | $16,551* | $2,283,449 | $16,551* | $6,695,000 |
| 60 | Brian Kelly | Notre Dame | $2,670,213* | INDEP | $2,670,213 | $0* | $2,670,213 | $0* | — |
| 61 | Mike Locksley | Maryland | $2,538,100* | Big Ten | $2,715,100 | $177,000* | $2,538,100 | $265,500* | $6,138,426 |
| 62 | Jonathan Smith | Oregon State | $2,444,000* | Pac-12 | $2,500,000 | $56,000* | $2,444,000 | $168,000* | $5,812,500 |
| 63 | Gus Malzahn | Central Florida | $2,320,000* | AAC | $2,320,000 | $0* | $2,320,000 | $0* | $10,350,000 |
| 64 | Ken Niumatalolo | Navy | $2,316,000 | AAC | $2,316,000 | — | $2,316,000 | — | — |
| 65 | Jeff Scott | South Florida | $2,220,000* | AAC | $2,400,000 | $180,000* | $2,220,000 | $247,500* | — |
| 66 | Rod Carey | Temple | $2,099,908* | AAC | $2,099,908 | $0* | $2,099,908 | $0* | — |
| 67 | Billy Napier | UL Lafayette | $2,000,000 | S-Belt | $2,000,000 | — | $2,000,000 | — | $4,900,000 |
| 68 | Willie Fritz | Tulane | $1,939,000 | AAC | $1,939,000 | — | $1,939,000 | — | — |
| 69 | Seth Littrell | North Texas | $1,900,000* | CUSA | $1,900,000 | $0* | $1,900,000 | $0* | $2,925,000 |
| 70 | Philip Montgomery | Tulsa | $1,798,643 | AAC | $1,798,643 | — | $1,798,643 | — | — |
| 71 | Bill Clark | UAB | $1,653,000 | CUSA | $1,550,000 | — | $1,550,000 | — | $7,591,667 |
| 72 | Ryan Silverfield | Memphis | $1,623,331* | AAC | $1,800,000 | $176,669* | $1,623,331 | $235,559* | $4,710,000 |
| 73 | Craig Bohl | Wyoming | $1,594,508* | MWC | $1,612,000 | $17,492* | $1,594,508 | $69,960* | $5,079,408 |
| 74 | Steve Addazio | Colorado State | $1,550,000 | MWC | $1,550,000 | — | $1,550,000 | — | $5,000,000 |
| 75 | Mike Houston | East Carolina | $1,535,667 | AAC | $1,593,000 | $58,333 | $1,534,667 | $93,210 | $1,000,000 |
| 76 | Brent Brennan | San Jose State | $1,500,000 | MWC | $1,500,000 | — | $1,500,000 | — | $5,725,000 |
| 77 | Andy Avalos | Boise State | $1,500,000 | MWC | $1,500,000 | — | $1,500,000 | — | $5,109,808 |
| 78 | Marcus Arroyo | UNLV | $1,500,000 | MWC | $1,500,000 | — | $1,500,000 | — | $3,618,750 |
| 79 | Kalen DeBoer | Fresno State | $1,350,000 | MWC | $1,350,000 | — | $1,350,000 | — | $3,450,000 |
| 80 | Sonny Dykes | Southern Methodist | $1,307,094 | AAC | $1,307,094 | — | $1,307,094 | — | — |
| 81 | Randy Edsall | Connecticut | $1,256,000* | INDEP | $1,256,000 | $0* | $1,256,000 | $0* | — |
| 82 | Jason Candle | Toledo | $1,177,350* | MAC | $1,200,000 | $25,000* | $1,175,000 | $75,000* | $1,458,333 |
| 83 | Hugh Freeze | Liberty | $1,138,306 | INDEP | $1,138,306 | — | $1,138,306 | — | — |
| 84 | Butch Davis | Florida International | $1,093,956 | CUSA | $1,093,956 | — | $1,093,956 | — | $45,582 |
| 85 | Brady Hoke | San Diego State | $1,050,000 | MWC | $1,050,000 | — | $1,050,000 | — | $5,312,500 |
| 86 | Blake Anderson | Utah State | $1,000,000* | MWC | $1,000,000 | $0* | $1,000,000 | $0* | $3,250,000 |
| 87 | Mike Bloomgren | Rice | $934,171 | CUSA | $934,171 | — | $934,171 | — | — |
| 88 | Rick Stockstill | Middle Tennessee | $910,504 | CUSA | $901,504 | — | $901,504 | — | $4,998,699 |
| 89 | Jamey Chadwell | Coastal Carolina | $871,250* | S-Belt | $871,250 | $0* | $871,250 | $13,410* | $2,650,052 |
| 90 | Jim McElwain | Central Michigan | $840,000* | MAC | $840,000 | $0* | $840,000 | $6,000* | $2,000,000 |
| 91 | Jeff Traylor | Texas-San Antonio | $830,000* | CUSA | $830,000 | $0* | $830,000 | $57,500* | $2,867,183 |
| 92 | Butch Jones | Arkansas State | $825,000 | S-Belt | $825,000 | — | $825,000 | — | $2,041,667 |
| 93 | Todd Graham | Hawaii | $800,000* | MWC | $800,000 | $0* | $800,000 | $0* | $1,310,429 |
| 94 | Will Hall | Southern Mississippi | $800,000 | CUSA | $800,000 | — | $800,000 | — | $2,466,667 |
| 95 | Jake Spavital | Texas State | $800,000 | S-Belt | $800,000 | — | $800,000 | — | $796,712 |
| 96 | Will Healy | Charlotte | $793,901* | CUSA | $805,000 | $11,099* | $793,901 | $19,423* | $2,104,167 |
| 97 | Shawn Elliott | Georgia State | $779,000 | S-Belt | $779,000 | — | $779,000 | — | $1,500,000 |
| 98 | Skip Holtz | Louisiana Tech | $779,000 | CUSA | $775,000 | — | $775,000 | — | $3,002,083 |
| 99 | Shawn Clark | Appalachian State | $775,000* | S-Belt | $775,000 | $0* | $775,000 | $0* | $3,000,000 |
| 100 | Willie Taggart | Florida Atlantic | $775,000* | CUSA | $775,000 | $0* | $775,000 | $0* | $2,250,000 |
| 101 | Ricky Rahne | Old Dominion | $762,296 | CUSA | $762,296 | — | $762,296 | — | $2,334,532 |
| 102 | Charles Huff | Marshall | $755,500 | CUSA | $755,500 | — | $755,500 | — | $2,392,417 |
| 103 | Tyson Helton | Western Kentucky | $751,470* | CUSA | $800,004 | $53,334* | $746,670 | $153,334* | $600,000 |
| 104 | Chip Lindsey | Troy | $750,000 | S-Belt | $750,000 | — | $750,000 | — | $670,000 |
| 105 | Dana Dimel | Texas El Paso | $748,966* | CUSA | $786,999 | $41,533* | $745,466 | $71,200* | $830,666 |
| 106 | Tim Lester | Western Michigan | $709,700* | MAC | $800,000 | $100,000* | $700,000 | $200,000* | $400,000 |
| 107 | Kane Wommack | South Alabama | $700,000 | S-Belt | $700,000 | — | $700,000 | — | $2,151,563 |
| 108 | Danny Gonzales | New Mexico | $700,000 | MWC | $700,000 | — | $700,000 | — | $1,600,000 |
| 109 | Chad Lunsford | Georgia Southern | $680,000* | S-Belt | $680,000 | $0* | $680,000 | $0* | — |
| 110 | Maurice Linguist | Buffalo | $675,000 | MAC | $675,000 | — | $675,000 | — | $1,939,583 |
| 111 | Thomas Hammock | Northern Illinois | $630,609* | MAC | $630,609 | $0* | $630,609 | $52,020* | $1,408,308 |
| 112 | Walt Bell | Massachusetts | $628,750* | INDEP | $660,000 | $31,250* | $628,750 | $62,500* | $939,212 |
| 113 | Jay Norvell | Nevada | $619,250* | MWC | $625,000 | $5,750* | $619,250 | $6,900* | $1,979,167 |
| 114 | Chuck Martin | Miami (Ohio) | $541,667* | MAC | $560,000 | $18,333* | $541,667 | $55,000* | $1,250,000 |
| 115 | Tim Albin | Ohio | $535,000 | MAC | $535,000 | — | $535,000 | — | $579,583 |
| 116 | Mike Neu | Ball State | $534,867* | MAC | $550,000 | $20,133* | $529,867 | $45,300* | $1,100,000 |
| 117 | Chris Creighton | Eastern Michigan | $515,000* | MAC | $515,000 | $0* | $515,000 | $21,117* | $1,000,000 |
| 118 | Sean Lewis | Kent State | $510,000* | MAC | $510,000 | $0* | $510,000 | $0* | $2,245,000 |
| 119 | Tom Arth | Akron | $496,083* | MAC | $500,000 | $3,917* | $496,083 | $47,000* | $648,853 |
| 120 | Scot Loeffler | Bowling Green | $475,000* | MAC | $525,000 | $50,000* | $475,000 | $100,000* | $1,050,000 |
| 121 | Doug Martin | New Mexico State | $437,000 | INDEP | $437,000 | — | $437,000 | — | $254,917 |
| 122 | Terry Bowden | UL Monroe | $430,000* | S-Belt | $430,000 | $0* | $430,000 | $0* | $175,000 |
| 123 | Jeff Monken | Army | — | INDEP | — | — | — | — | — |
| 124 | James Franklin | Penn State | $0* | Big Ten | $7,000,000 | $0* | — | $0* | — |
| 125 | Kalani Sitake | Brigham Young | — | INDEP | — | — | — | — | — |
| 126 | Manny Diaz | Miami | $0* | ACC | — | $0* | — | $0* | — |
| 127 | Jeff Hafley | Boston College | — | ACC | — | — | — | — | — |
| 128 | Troy Calhoun | Air Force | — | MWC | — | — | — | — | — |
| 129 | Dave Aranda | Baylor | — | Big 12 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 130 | Clark Lea | Vanderbilt | — | SEC | — | — | — | — | — |