Here’s where Sam Pittman ranks in list of FBS’ highest-paid coaches
How hot Sam Pittman’s seat is as coach of the Arkansas football team depends largely on your disposition toward the coach.
Right now, five weeks into the season, it shouldn’t be hot at all. Pittman has earned the Razorbacks three straight bowl bids in his three seasons. But the Hogs are also 2-3 at this point of the season, leading to some who want him to exit to say he’s close to exiting.
However, that’s just one game off where we had the team at this point of the season, too.
When USA Today released its annual Top 25 coaching salary rankings, Pittman was there. In fact, he was No. 22, right next to the man who was his boss when Pittman served as Arkansas’ offensive line coach: Illinois Bret Bielema.
Pittman has had better results than some above him (see: Napier, Billy at Florida) and some immediately below him, too (see: Beamer, Shane at South Carolina). In the grand scheme of things, when it comes to job security, those numbers – monetarily – matter.
Let’s take a look at the whole Top 25 and you can make a determination whether Pittman is giving enough bang for the buck.
1. Nick Saban - Alabama
$11.407 million
2. Dabo Swinney - Clemson
$10.884 million
3. Kirby Smart - Georgia
$10.705 million
4. Ryan Day - Ohio State
$10.271 million
5. Mel Tucker - (formerly of) Michigan State
$10.015 million
6. Brian Kelly - LSU
$9.15 million
7. Jimbo Fisher - Texas A&M
$9.15 million
8. Mark Stoops - Kentucky
$9.013 million
9. Josh Heupel - Tennessee (tied)
$9 million
9. Lane Kiffin - Ole Miss (tied)
$9 million
11. James Franklin - Penn State
$8.5 million
12. Jim Harbaugh - Michigan
$8.254 million
13. Luke Fickell - Wisconsin (tied)
$7.625
13. Mike Gundy - Oklahoma State (tied)
$7.625 million
15. Mike Norvell - Florida State
$7.3 million
16. Billy Napier - Florida
$7.27 million
17. Brent Venables - Oklahoma
$7.1 million
18. Kirk Ferentz - Iowa
$7 million
19. Dan Lanning - Oregon
$6.624 million
20. Hugh Freeze - Ole Miss (tied)
$6.5 million
20. Bret Bielema - Illinois (tied)
$6.5 million
22. Sam Pittman - Arkansas
$6.357 million
23. Kyle Whittingham - Utah
$6.325 million
24. Shane Beamer - South Carolina
$6.125 million
25. Eliah Drinkwitz - Missouri (tied)
$6 million
25. P.J. Fleck - Minnesota (tied)
$6 million
Team record: 77-51 (27-27) in six-plus seasons
