One Big Cause of High College Tuition: Coach Salaries

TOP NCAAF COACH PAY

Nick Saban,Total Pay,$7,087,481

Two weeks ago, we published a conversation Rob had with our friend Mike, who is a millennial and is struggling to deal with college tuition. A friend of ours published a link to an article on facebook that blamed the availability of federal funds for loans as the reason for tuition increases. However, we strongly feel that it has a lot more to do with the outrageous salaries of College Sports coaches. Just look at this summary compiled by USA Today. 
 -  Why in the world does a sports coach deserve 7 MILLION dollars for an annual salary?  
No wonder college tuition is unaffordable. Colleges need to stop this stupidity - and people can choose to go to another school where coaches are not getting these ridiculous salaries.
Source: http://sports.usatoday.com/ncaa/salaries/

2015 NCAAF Coaches Salaries

SCHOOL CONF HEAD COACH SCHOOL PAY OTHER PAY TOTAL PAY MAX BONUS BONUSES PAID (2014-15) STAFF PAY TOTAL Alabama SEC Nick Saban $6,932,395 $155,086 $7,087,481 $700,000 $425,000 $5,227,090 Michigan Big Ten Jim Harbaugh $7,004,000 -- $7,004,000 $1,175,000 -- $4,248,667 Ohio State Big Ten Urban Meyer $5,860,000 $0 $5,860,000 $775,000 $400,000 $4,021,950 Oklahoma Big 12 Bob Stoops $5,400,000 $0 $5,400,000 $834,000 $75,000 $3,768,500 Florida State ACC Jimbo Fisher $5,150,000 $0 $5,150,000 $1,475,000 $500,000 $4,284,800 Texas Big 12 Charlie Strong $5,100,000 $270 $5,100,270 $1,003,000 $25,000 $3,906,100 Texas A&M SEC Kevin Sumlin $5,000,000 $0 $5,000,000 $1,350,000 $50,000 $4,419,360 Penn State Big Ten James Franklin $4,400,000 -- $4,400,000 $1,000,000 $200,000 -- LSU SEC Les Miles $4,300,000 $88,721 $4,388,721 $700,000 $100,000 $5,471,236 Mississippi SEC Hugh Freeze $4,300,000 $10,000 $4,310,000 $975,000 $125,000 $3,091,000 Baylor Big 12 Art Briles $4,236,073 $2,500 $4,238,573 -- -- $981,540 Georgia SEC Mark Richt $4,000,000 $124,000 $4,124,000 $1,800,000 $75,000 $4,807,200 Auburn SEC Gus Malzahn $4,100,000 $4,500 $4,104,500 $1,400,000 $125,000 $5,341,900 Iowa Big Ten Kirk Ferentz $4,075,000 $0 $4,075,000 $2,375,000 $25,000 $3,049,072 South Carolina SEC Steve Spurrier $4,000,000 $28,600 $4,028,600 $1,700,000 $200,000 $3,995,600 Mississippi State SEC Dan Mullen $4,000,000 $0 $4,000,000 $900,000 $390,000 $3,287,500 Florida SEC Jim McElwain $3,983,359 -- $3,983,359 $450,000 -- $3,728,500 Arkansas SEC Bret Bielema $3,954,166 $6,500 $3,960,666 $1,000,000 $100,000 $3,529,550 Texas Christian Big 12 Gary Patterson $3,940,026 -- $3,940,026 -- -- -- Missouri SEC Gary Pinkel $3,768,889 $0 $3,768,889 $725,000 $900,000 $3,630,000 Michigan State Big Ten Mark Dantonio $3,671,520 $0 $3,671,520 $650,000 $250,000 $3,195,154 Oklahoma State Big 12 Mike Gundy $3,650,000 -- $3,650,000 $550,000 $62,500 $2,915,476 Tennessee SEC Butch Jones $3,610,000 $23,000 $3,633,000 $1,000,000 $300,000 $3,540,700 Washington Pac-12 Chris Petersen $3,400,000 $2,940 $3,402,940 $1,175,000 $200,000 $3,278,524 UCLA Pac-12 Jim Mora $3,350,000 $0 $3,350,000 $930,000 $145,000 $3,969,000 Clemson ACC Dabo Swinney $3,300,000 $5,200 $3,305,200 $1,125,000 $50,000 $4,329,606 Kentucky SEC Mark Stoops $3,250,000 $13,600 $3,263,600 $2,775,000 $125,000 $3,007,200 Arizona Pac-12 Rich Rodriguez $2,878,844 $360,000 $3,238,844 $2,025,000 $650,000 $3,036,400 Virginia ACC Mike London $3,196,724 $1,676 $3,198,400 $715,000 $0 $2,514,268 Oregon Pac-12 Mark Helfrich $3,150,000 -- $3,150,000 $1,635,000 $535,000 $3,695,000 Texas Tech Big 12 Kliff Kingsbury $3,108,000 $39,500 $3,147,500 $1,500,000 $70,000 $2,336,600 Louisville ACC Bobby Petrino $3,000,000 $3,500 $3,003,500 $1,341,667 $782,667 $3,779,800 Arizona State Pac-12 Todd Graham $3,000,000 $2,960 $3,002,960 $3,740,000 $627,000 $3,169,740 Kansas State Big 12 Bill Snyder $3,000,000 $0 $3,000,000 $580,000 $150,000 $3,023,325 West Virginia Big 12 Dana Holgorsen $2,880,000 $0 $2,880,000 $600,000 $35,000 $2,801,000 Georgia Tech ACC Paul Johnson $2,800,000 $2,000 $2,802,000 $1,050,000 $450,000 $2,504,665 Virginia Tech ACC Frank Beamer $2,535,925 $240,000 $2,775,925 $382,500 $42,500 $3,257,690 Washington State Pac-12 Mike Leach $2,750,000 $0 $2,750,000 $625,000 $0 $2,323,500 Nebraska Big Ten Mike Riley $2,700,000 -- $2,700,000 $950,000 -- $3,450,000 Utah Pac-12 Kyle Whittingham $2,600,000 -- $2,600,000 $935,000 $195,000 $2,650,000 Boston College ACC Steve Addazio $2,585,655 -- $2,585,655 -- -- -- Miami (Fla.) ACC Al Golden $2,539,315 -- $2,539,315 -- -- -- Minnesota Big Ten Jerry Kill $2,500,000 -- $2,500,000 $1,150,000 $375,000 $2,932,000 Northwestern Big Ten Pat Fitzgerald $2,490,858 -- $2,490,858 -- -- -- Oregon State Pac-12 Gary Andersen $2,450,000 -- $2,450,000 $525,000 -- $2,640,300 Wisconsin Big Ten Paul Chryst $2,300,000 -- $2,300,000 $440,000 -- $2,632,200 Stanford Pac-12 David Shaw $2,224,435 -- $2,224,435 -- -- -- Iowa State Big 12 Paul Rhoads $2,200,000 $5,015 $2,205,015 $950,000 $0 $2,177,635 North Carolina State ACC Dave Doeren $2,200,000 -- $2,200,000 $1,750,000 $100,000 $2,888,625 Cincinnati AAC Tommy Tuberville $2,200,000 $0 $2,200,000 $540,000 $140,000 $1,950,000 Purdue Big Ten Darrell Hazell $2,140,000 -- $2,140,000 $1,545,000 $90,000 $2,245,000 Maryland Big Ten Randy Edsall $2,110,648 $200 $2,110,848 $950,000 $200,000 $2,783,060 Duke ACC David Cutcliffe $2,049,055 -- $2,049,055 -- -- -- Colorado Pac-12 Mike MacIntyre $2,009,778 $575 $2,010,353 $1,500,000 $292,000 $2,748,052 California Pac-12 Sonny Dykes $2,000,000 $8,000 $2,008,000 $304,000 $0 $2,506,600 North Carolina ACC Larry Fedora $1,931,000 -- $1,931,000 $346,250 $29,250 $2,082,035 Central Florida AAC George O'Leary $1,890,000 -- $1,890,000 $750,000 $385,000 $2,754,694 Navy AAC Ken Niumatalolo $1,637,803 -- $1,637,803 -- -- -- Connecticut AAC Bob Diaco $1,550,000 -- $1,550,000 $450,000 -- $1,943,130 Fresno State Mt. West Tim DeRuyter $1,457,745 $35,000 $1,492,745 $1,685,000 $420,000 $1,391,242 Houston AAC Tom Herman $1,450,000 -- $1,450,000 $447,500 -- $2,113,000 East Carolina AAC Ruffin McNeill $1,414,610 $2,500 $1,417,110 $550,000 $75,000 $1,704,800 Memphis AAC Justin Fuente $1,400,000 $0 $1,400,000 $725,000 $235,000 $2,114,188 Colorado State Mt. West Mike Bobo $1,350,000 -- $1,350,000 $685,000 -- $1,961,482 Indiana Big Ten Kevin Wilson $1,312,277 -- $1,312,277 $1,130,000 $25,000 $2,317,478 Syracuse ACC Scott Shafer $1,302,721 -- $1,302,721 -- -- -- Rutgers Big Ten Kyle Flood $1,250,000 $10,000 $1,260,000 $425,000 $85,000 $2,609,450 Notre Dame Ind. Brian Kelly $1,187,272 -- $1,187,272 -- -- -- South Florida AAC Willie Taggart $1,150,000 $2,500 $1,152,500 $650,000 $0 $1,739,700 Boise State Mt. West Bryan Harsin $1,100,004 $0 $1,100,004 $400,000 $182,875 $2,129,132 Louisiana-Lafayette Sun Belt Mark Hudspeth $1,050,000 $3,156 $1,053,156 $155,000 $45,000 $1,040,000 Tulane AAC Curtis Johnson $926,000 -- $926,000 -- -- -- Air Force Mt. West Troy Calhoun $892,500 $26,500 $919,000 $255,000 $123,750 $1,518,000 Illinois Big Ten Bill Cubit $915,000 $1,010 $916,010 $51,500 -- $2,011,208 Army Ind. Jeff Monken $883,000 -- $883,000 $256,000 $0 $2,220,450 Wyoming Mt. West Craig Bohl $882,000 $0 $882,000 $330,000 $120,000 $1,224,315 Middle Tennessee C-USA Rick Stockstill $801,504 $10,500 $812,004 $126,142 $5,000 $1,166,061 San Diego State Mt. West Rocky Long $806,300 $2,000 $808,300 $655,000 $65,000 $1,530,932 Rice C-USA David Bailiff $805,088 -- $805,088 -- -- -- Western Michigan MAC P.J. Fleck $800,000 $2,500 $802,500 $336,000 $78,750 $1,037,500 Kansas Big 12 David Beaty $801,169 -- $801,169 $925,000 -- $2,279,999 New Mexico Mt. West Bob Davie $772,690 $1,250 $773,940 $490,000 $0 $1,363,070 Marshall C-USA Doc Holliday $755,500 $2,750 $758,250 $145,000 $95,000 $1,141,476 Utah State Mt. West Matt Wells $750,000 $2,900 $752,900 $770,000 $65,000 $1,162,973 North Texas C-USA Dan McCarney $720,000 $1,600 $721,600 $945,000 $0 $1,158,150 Arkansas State Sun Belt Blake Anderson $700,000 $0 $700,000 $235,000 $25,000 $1,183,000 Southern Mississippi C-USA Todd Monken $700,000 $0 $700,000 $125,000 $15,000 $1,055,000 Troy Sun Belt Neal Brown $660,000 -- $660,000 $475,000 -- $1,198,233 Temple AAC Matt Rhule $648,633 -- $648,633 -- -- -- Hawaii Mt. West Norm Chow $550,000 $87,750 $637,750 $1,180,000 $0 -- Western Kentucky C-USA Jeff Brohm $610,800 $3,120 $613,920 $450,000 $100,000 $1,054,792 Florida International C-USA Ron Turner $604,190 $1,000 $605,190 $150,000 $0 $1,077,200 Charlotte C-USA Brad Lambert $600,000 -- $600,000 $120,000 -- $647,025 Nevada Mt. West Brian Polian $575,000 $3,000 $578,000 $250,000 $55,000 $1,249,500 Old Dominion C-USA Bobby Wilder $550,000 $15,000 $565,000 $504,125 $0 $1,062,738 Ohio MAC Frank Solich $562,760 $1,500 $564,260 $329,440 $0 $898,290 South Alabama Sun Belt Joey Jones $525,000 $35,500 $560,500 $211,025 $31,438 $1,135,459 Nevada-Las Vegas Mt. West Tony Sanchez $560,000 -- $560,000 $175,000 -- $1,415,799 San Jose State Mt. West Ron Caragher $540,745 $30 $540,775 $195,000 $5,000 $1,073,832 Central Michigan MAC John Bonamego $533,500 -- $533,500 $330,000 -- $863,380 Georgia State Sun Belt Trent Miles $523,500 $4,000 $527,500 $362,500 $9,500 $950,700 Florida Atlantic C-USA Charlie Partridge $525,000 $500 $525,500 $100,000 $0 $846,050 Ball State MAC Pete Lembo $514,250 $3,500 $517,750 $460,000 $2,500 $910,300 Louisiana Tech C-USA Skip Holtz $500,000 $17,000 $517,000 $295,000 $25,000 $1,066,503 Texas-El Paso C-USA Sean Kugler $509,541 $4,500 $514,041 $486,052 $75,044 $1,191,241 Georgia Southern Sun Belt Willie Fritz $500,000 $0 $500,000 $287,500 $35,000 $930,450 Toledo MAC Matt Campbell $495,000 $1,450 $496,450 $450,000 $137,500 $886,297 Massachusetts MAC Mark Whipple $450,000 $6,000 $456,000 $200,000 $0 $832,930 Miami (Ohio) MAC Chuck Martin $450,000 $0 $450,000 $482,493 $20,250 $863,310 Texas-San Antonio C-USA Larry Coker $425,000 $2,150 $427,150 $255,000 $0 $808,681 Texas State Sun Belt Dennis Franchione $425,000 $2,000 $427,000 $232,500 $7,500 $832,300 Eastern Michigan MAC Chris Creighton $425,000 $0 $425,000 $310,000 $0 $864,676 Idaho Sun Belt Paul Petrino $413,526 $5,000 $418,526 $152,000 $5,000 $747,637 Bowling Green MAC Dino Babers $413,000 $0 $413,000 $245,000 $107,500 $807,112 Akron MAC Terry Bowden $406,000 $1,500 $407,500 $255,000 $10,000 $934,220 Northern Illinois MAC Rod Carey $400,000 $1,500 $401,500 $205,000 $77,500 $885,020 Buffalo MAC Lance Leipold $400,000 -- $400,000 $380,000 -- $928,540 Kent State MAC Paul Haynes $390,150 $2,200 $392,350 $173,000 $1,000 $718,436 New Mexico State Sun Belt Doug Martin $376,044 $1,000 $377,044 $135,000 $0 $646,883 Appalachian State Sun Belt Scott Satterfield $375,000 $0 $375,000 $165,000 $27,500 $936,500 Louisiana-Monroe Sun Belt Todd Berry $360,000 $600 $360,600 $47,500 $0 $683,050 Southern California Pac-12 Steve Sarkisian -- -- -- -- -- -- Brigham Young Ind. Bronco Mendenhall -- -- -- -- -- -- Wake Forest ACC Dave Clawson -- -- -- -- -- -- Vanderbilt SEC Derek Mason -- -- -- -- -- -- Tulsa AAC Philip Montgomery -- -- -- -- -- -- Pittsburgh ACC Pat Narduzzi -- -- -- -- -- -- Southern Methodist AAC Chad Morris -- -- -- -- -- -- To see the methodology behind this data, click here. Coaches' records are going into 2015 season, as displayed in NCAA Career Statistics database at ncaa.org. "Record at school" data for Louisville's Bobby Petrino, Massachusetts' Mark Whipple, Kansas State's Bill Snyder and Texas State's Dennis Franchione are based on their current tenures at the schools. Compilation of figures for Staff Pay, the total amount paid to schools' nine full-time assistant coaches, is in progress. CREDITS By Steve Berkowitz, Jodi Upton, Christopher Schnaars, Sean Dougherty and Alec J Neuharth-Keusch of USA TODAY; Stephanie Klein for USA TODAY; Robert Lattinville, who is of counsel to Spencer Fane LLP and whose practice areas include areas include representation of college coaches, athletics directors and NCAA member institutions; David Zwart, a St. Louis-based attorney who works with Lattinville.