Year-by-year salaries of Huskers head football coaches since 2012
The salaries of college football head coaches have soared in recent years, as the arms race among the nation’s top programs has escalated rapidly.
The Nebraska Cornhuskers are no exception. To wit, Scott Frost in 2021 earned almost double what Bo Pelini was paid back in 2012 to run the Huskers program.
To get an idea of how rapidly coaching salaries are rising, Cornhuskers Wire lists the annual compensation paid out to University of Nebraska head football coaches over the past decade below.
[Source: USA TODAY college football coaching salary database; figures do not include income from non-university sources, incentive bonuses or the value of perks and benefits.]
2012 - Bo Pelini
Nebraska coach Bo Pelini watches the action during a game against Michigan State at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan, on Nov. 3, 2012. (Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports)
Pay from university: $2,875,000
Final record: 10-4
Postseason: Lost Capital One Bowl to Georgia, 45-31
2013 - Bo Pelini
Nebraska coach Bo Pelini is pulled away from officials by offensive coordinator Tim Beck during a game against Iowa at Memorial Stadium, on Nov. 29, 2013. (Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports)
Pay from university: $2,975,000
Final record: 9-4
Postseason: Won Gator Bowl over Georgia, 24-19
2014 - Bo Pelini
Nebraska coach Bo Pelini looks at the scoreboard during a game against Wisconsin at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin, on Nov. 15, 2014. (Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports)
Pay from university: $3,077,646
Final record: 9-3 (does not include 0-1 record under interim head coach Barney Cotton)
Postseason: Lost Holiday Bowl to USC, 45-42 (under interim head coach Barney Cotton)
2015 - Mike Riley
Nebraska coach Mike Riley smiles while walking off the field following a win at Minnesota on Oct. 17, 2015. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)
Pay from university: $2,700,000
Final record: 6-7
Postseason: Won Foster Farms Bowl over UCLA, 37-29
2016 - Mike Riley
Nebraska coach Mike Riley watches warmups before a game against Minnesota at Memorial Stadium, on Nov. 12, 2016. (Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports)
Pay from university: $2,800,000
Final record: 9-4
Postseason: Lost Music City Bowl to Tennessee, 38-24
2017 - Mike Riley
Nebraska coach Mike Riley greets fans as he walks into Memorial Stadium before a game against Iowa on Nov. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/John Peterson)
Pay from university: $2,900,000
Final record: 4-8
Postseason: none
2018 - Scott Frost
Nebraska coach Scott Frost leads his team onto the field before a game against Akron at Memorial Stadium. (Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports)
Pay from university: $5,000,000
Final record: 4-8
Postseason: none
2019 - Scott Frost
Nebraska coach Scott Frost heads onto the field prior to a game against Ohio State at Memorial Stadium, on Sept. 28, 2019. (Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports)
Pay from university: $5,000,000
Final record: 5-7
Postseason: none
2020 - Scott Frost
Nebraska coach Scott Frost watches warmups before a game against Ohio State at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, on Oct. 24, 2020. (Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports)
Pay from university: $5,000,000
Final record: 3-5
Postseason: none
2021 - Scott Frost
Nebraska coach Scott Frost argues for officials to review a call during a game against Iowa at Memorial Stadium on Nov. 26, 2021. (AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz)
Pay from university: $5,000,000
Final record: 3-9
Postseason: none
Other Big Ten schools
Check out the head football coaching salaries over the past decade for other B1G programs:
• Iowa Hawkeyes
• Michigan Wolverines
• Michigan State Spartans
• Ohio State Buckeyes
• Penn State Nittany Lions
• Rutgers Scarlet Knights
• Wisconsin Badgers
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