Dan Lanning stands among highest-paid young coaches in NCAA for 2023 season
It may not be a monumental day in the world of college football, but it’s something we definitely take note of.
Each season, USA TODAY releases the database for salaries of college football head coaches at public universities, showing who is paid the most per season, the potential bonuses included, and the buyouts coaches have to pay if they end their contracts before a certain period of time.
That last bit of information is always the most interesting since it usually becomes one of the most notable figures each and every year as we see the coaching carousel continue to churn in the world of college football.
Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning became a very rich man earlier this year, signing a new contract extension before the season in late July and tying him to the team through the end of the decade.
Lanning’s extension increases his yearly salary from $4.7 million to $7 million, increasing by $200,000 each year through 2028. Should he hit all of his incentives and kickers, Lanning could make more than $70 million over the next nine years in Eugene, while a massive $20 million buyout has been put in place should he leave the Ducks.
So how do those numbers stack up against the other highly paid coaches in the nation? Now that USA TODAY’s database has been released, we can finally get an idea:
** It should be noted that the database only covers public universities, so contracts for Lincoln Riley (USC), Josh Freeman (Notre Dame) and coaches at other private schools are not included. **
Nick Saban — Alabama Crimson Tide
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Coach’s Age: 71
Total Pay: $11,407,000
Maximum Bonus: $1,100,000
Contract Buyout: $44,800,000
Dabo Swinney — Clemson Tigers
Coach’s Age: 53
Total Pay: $10,884,775
Maximum Bonus: $1,375,000
Contract Buyout: $64,000,000
Kirby Smart — Georgia Bulldogs
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Coach’s Age: 47
Total Pay: $10,705,000
Maximum Bonus: $1,525,000
Contract Buyout: $92,625,000
Ryan Day — Ohio State Buckeyes
Coach’s Age: 44
Total Pay: $10,271,250
Maximum Bonus: $800,000
Contract Buyout: $46,222,292
Mel Tucker — Michigan State Spartans*
Note: Mel Tucker was recently fired with cause by Michigan State.
Coach’s Age: 51
Total Pay: $10,015,350
Maximum Bonus: $1,550,000
Contract Buyout: N/A
Brian Kelly — LSU Tigers
Coach’s Age: 61
Total Pay: $9,975,000
Maximum Bonus: $1,325,000
Contract Buyout: $70,018,333
Jimbo Fisher — Texas A&M Aggies
Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Coach’s Age: 57
Total Pay: $9,150,000
Maximum Bonus: $1,500,000
Contract Buyout: $77,562,500
Mark Stoops — Kentucky Wildcats
Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports
Coach’s Age: 56
Total Pay: $9,013,600
Maximum Bonus: $3,050,000
Contract Buyout: $51,187,500
Josh Heupel — Tennessee Volunteers
Coach’s Age: 45
Total Pay: $9,000,000
Maximum Bonus: $1,700,000
Contract Buyout: $46,500,000
Lane Kiffin — Ole Miss Rebels
Coach’s Age: 48
Total Pay: $9,000,000
Maximum Bonus: $2,600,000
Contract Buyout: N/A
James Franklin — Penn State Nittany Lions
Coach’s Age: 51
Total Pay: $8,500,000
Maximum Bonus: $1,400,000
Contract Buyout: $64,666,667
Jim Harbaugh — Michigan Wolverines
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Coach’s Age: 59
Total Pay: $8,254,600
Maximum Bonus: $3,275,000
Contract Buyout: $27,236,892
Luke Fickell — WIsconsin Badgers
Coach’s Age: 50
Total Pay: $7,625,000
Maximum Bonus: $1,450,000
Contract Buyout: $39,680,000
Mike Gundy — Oklahoma State Cowboys
Coach’s Age: 56
Total Pay: $7,625,000
Maximum Bonus: $900,000
Contract Buyout: $24,976,563
Mike Norvell — Florida State Seminoles
David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports
Coach’s Age: 41
Total Pay: $7,300,000
Maximum Bonus: $1,400,000
Contract Buyout: $42,209,583
Billy Napier — Florida Gators
Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun
Coach’s Age: 44
Total Pay: $7,270,000
Maximum Bonus: $1,600,000
Contract Buyout: $32,384,716
Brent Venables — Oklahoma Sooners
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Coach’s Age: 52
Total Pay: $7,100,000
Maximum Bonus: $985,000
Contract Buyout: $30,583,333
Kirk Ferentz — Iowa Hawkeyes
Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
Coach’s Age: 68
Total Pay: $7,000,000
Maximum Bonus: $2,500,000
Contract Buyout: $37,000,000
Dan Lanning — Oregon Ducks
Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Coach’s Age: 37
Total Pay: $6,624,999
Maximum Bonus: $1,875,000
Contract Buyout: $44,333,333
Hugh Freeze — Auburn Tigers
John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
Coach’s Age: 54
Total Pay: $6,500,000
Maximum Bonus: $3,300,000
Contract Buyout: $25,187,500
Bret Bielema — Illinois Fighting Illini
Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Coach’s Age: 53
Total Pay: $6,500,000
Maximum Bonus: $1,600,000
Contract Buyout: $35,750,000
Sam Pittman — Arkansas Razorbacks
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Coach’s Age: 61
Total Pay: $6,357,500
Maximum Bonus: $1,450,000
Contract Buyout: N/A
Kyle Whittingham — Utah Utes
Jeffrey Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Coach’s Age: 63
Total Pay: $6,325,000
Maximum Bonus: $1,200,000
Contract Buyout: $12,250,000
Shane Beamer — South Carolina Gamecocks
Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports
Coach’s Age: 46
Total Pay: $6,125,000
Maximum Bonus: $1,450,000
Contract Buyout: $18,255,251
P.J. Fleck — Minnesota Golden Gophers
Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports
Coach’s Age: 42
Total Pay: $6,000,000
Maximum Bonus: $1,550,000
Contract Buyout: $23,725,000
