Experienced sports journalist, College sports expert and broadcaster, hailing from Pennsylvania
Roughly half of all US employers utilize non-competes in their contracts, according to a report from the Economic Policy Institute in 2019. These companies want to exert a level of control over their employees, preventing them from “sharing confidential information or trade secrets.” But another major benefit for companies is that non-competes limit employee bargaining power and suppress wages. The New York Times estimated that non-competes “suppress American workers' income by roughly 3 percent to 4 percent, or $250 billion to $296 billion.”
It’s rare for talent to turn the tables on employers, but in college football and college sports in general, that is precisely what has happened for coaches. In the past twenty years, more and more men’s college basketball and college football coaches have successfully negotiated multimillion-dollar buyouts in their contracts. Notre Dame’s Charlie Weis was paid “to go away,” after an unsuccessful tenure in South Bend, Indiana 15 years ago. He was paid just shy of $19 million between 2009, when he was fired, and 2017. While his buyout made waves in 2009, it’s considered buy-out pocket change for universities in 2023.
So which coaches are virtually “unfireable” today due to their buy-out clauses? Let’s look at what coaches would make if they were fired today.
Two quick notes: This assumes no one on our list is fired for cause. That could get a college or university off the hook, monetarily speaking. And the second note is that this list comprises coaches from public universities only. Their contracts are publicly available, while private institutions are under no obligation to share contractual information. USC’s Lincoln Riley may well have a buyout of over $90 million based on his current compensation that has been made public, but we do not have access to his buyout stipulation.
1. Kirby Smart, Georgia, Head Football Coach ($103.1 million)
Bobak Ha'Eri, CC BY 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
You can’t buy the kind of job security that Kirby Smart has right now in Athens, Georgia. Smart has led the Bulldogs to back-to-back national championships. As a reward, his ten-year $112.5 million deal is fully guaranteed through 2026. His deal drops from 100% guaranteed to 85% on Jan. 1st, 2027, and would be paid out at that level through the end of the contract. Luckily, the UGA athletic department won’t have to entertain the thought of firing their legendary head coach. The same can’t be said for other employers on this list with massive contracts hanging like albatrosses around their necks.
2. Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M, Head Football Coach ($86.7 million)
Ethridgem, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
The Aggies take their football seriously, so it is no surprise that they pay their head football coach handsomely. Fisher’s most recent extension agreed to pay him $94.95 million over a ten-year period starting in 2022. It made sense when the Texas A&M Board of Regents voted to extend Fisher. He was coming off a 9-1 season with an Orange Bowl victory. But since then, Fisher and the Aggies are 13-11 with a losing record (6-10) in SEC play. Last fall’s 5-7 mark would have gotten a lot of coaches fired, but not Fisher. His massive buyout ($86m) prevented an ouster at the time. While it has come down by another nine million, it remains astronomical and would be the largest ever paid if A&M gave Fisher the boot following the season.
3. Mel Tucker, Michigan State, Head Football Coach ($86.6 million)
Tucker’s contract is fully guaranteed, according to documentation obtained by Boardroom.TV. Tucker’s agent, Neil Cornrich, deserves a raise. Despite an 18–14 overall record, which includes two losing seasons in East Lansing, Tucker is entrenched as one of the sport's highest-paid coaches. He has a losing record in the Big Ten since taking over the Michigan State program, but if the school wants to move on from him, they’d have to pay his enormous buyout. Neil Cornrich 1, Michigan State 0.
4. Brian Kelly, LSU, Head Football Coach ($78.6 Million)
Jeremy Meier, CC BY 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Brian Kelly is one of the winningest college football coaches of all time. He’s won at every level, from Division II and the Group of Five to Notre Dame and LSU. He’s won 73.2% of his games and made multiple national championship appearances from his time at Grand Valley State. In year one at LSU, he dethroned Alabama in the SEC West and enters this season as a contender for the College Football Playoff. Despite this lofty buyout figure, LSU shouldn’t lose much sleep, given Kelly’s history as a head coach.
5. James Franklin, Penn State, Head Football Coach ($72.6 Million)
NoahRiffe, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Franklin is the epitome of an excellent, but not great college football coach. He has won 11 games four times since 2016 in Happy Valley, complete with trips to the Rose (2x), Fiesta, and Cotton Bowls. He’s gone 3-1 in those New Year’s Six bowl games and brought waves of elite talent to State College. This season the Nittany Lions may be poised for their best season since 1994, when the program went undefeated and finished second in both the AP and Coaches Polls. Franklin has spurned other suitors in recent years, which means this marriage is solid.
6. Dabo Swinney, Clemson, Head Football Coach ($64 Million)
LambeauLeap80, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Dabo Swinney is one of three active college football coaches with multiple national championships at the FBS level (Saban, Smart). He’s earned his place among the highest-paid coaches in all sports, but what’s interesting about his new deal is that while the school would owe him $64 million if they were to fire him after this season, this contract goes both ways. If Swinney, an Alabama graduate, were to leave Clemson and take over for Nick Saban, he would have to pay Clemson $7.5 million. If he were to bolt for another job in 2023 outside of Alabama, he would owe Clemson $6 million. His new employer would likely cover that fee, but it remains a unique contract quirk.
7. Ryan Day, Ohio State, Head Football Coach ($52.4 Million)
TigerNet.com, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Day and Ohio State were on top of the world two and a half years ago. They made the national championship game and had beaten arch-rival Michigan eight straight times. At the time, the buyout being discussed concerning Day was the possibility of him leaving for the NFL. His contract stipulates that if he left for another job he would have to pay Ohio State $5 million in 2023, $4.5 million in 2024, and $4 million in 2025. But after two consecutive losses to Michigan, there is smoke that Day could find himself on the hot seat if the Buckeyes were to lose to That Team Up North (TTUN) again in 2023. While unlikely at this price point, he no longer has unassailable job security.
8. Nick Saban, Alabama, Head Football Coach ($43.2 Million)
Barring any scandal that could get Saban fired for cause, there is no way the University of Alabama would buy out his contract. He’s the undisputed G.O.A.T. of college football coaching. He’s won 10 SEC conference titles, seven national titles, and 87.5% of his games in Tuscaloosa. His new deal pays him $11.7 million per season, making the coaching legend college football's highest-paid coach.
College Football National Championship Trends
College Football Coach Data
| Coach | School | Total Pay | Conf. | School Pay | Maximum Bonus | Bonuses Paid (2021-22) | Buyout End of 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kirby Smart | Georgia | $10,253,600 | SEC | $10,253,600 | $1,525,000 | $850,000 | $103,104,167 |
| Jimbo Fisher | Texas A&M | $9,000,000* | SEC | $9,000,000 | $1,500,000 | $50,000 | $86,700,000 |
| Mel Tucker | Michigan State | $9,561,000 | Big Ten | $9,561,000 | $1,550,000 | $250,000 | $86,687,500 |
| Brian Kelly | Louisiana State | $9,810,000* | SEC | $9,810,000 | $1,325,000 | — | $78,622,917 |
| James Franklin | Penn State | $8,500,000* | Big Ten | $8,500,000 | $1,400,000 | $200,000 | $72,666,667 |
| Dabo Swinney | Clemson | $10,539,775* | ACC | $10,508,575 | $1,375,000 | $150,000 | $64,000,000 |
| Ryan Day | Ohio State | $8,783,336* | Big Ten | $8,708,336 | $800,000 | $300,000 | $52,416,666 |
| Nick Saban | Alabama | $10,957,000* | SEC | $10,707,000 | $1,100,000 | $825,000 | $43,200,000 |
| Kirk Ferentz | Iowa | $7,000,000* | Big Ten | $7,000,000 | $2,500,000 | $1,025,000 | $43,000,000 |
| Billy Napier | Florida | $7,270,000* | SEC | $7,270,000 | $1,600,000 | — | $39,000,833 |
| Jim Harbaugh | Michigan | $8,114,600* | Big Ten | $8,054,000 | $3,275,000 | $2,225,000 | $35,410,651 |
| Luke Fickell | Cincinnati | $5,050,000* | AAC | $5,050,000 | $775,000 | $570,000 | $35,000,000 |
| Mark Stoops | Kentucky | $6,763,600 | SEC | $6,750,000 | $2,750,000 | $650,000 | $31,078,125 |
| Josh Heupel | Tennessee | $5,000,000 | SEC | $5,000,000 | $1,200,000 | $100,000 | $25,833,333 |
| Justin Wilcox | California | $4,200,000* | Pac-12 | $4,200,000 | $900,000 | $235,000 | $25,108,333 |
| Tom Allen | Indiana | $4,310,000* | Big Ten | $4,310,000 | $750,000 | $0 | $24,900,000 |
| Jeff Brohm | Purdue | $5,100,000* | Big Ten | $5,100,000 | $1,290,000 | $315,000 | $24,375,000 |
| Matt Campbell | Iowa State | $4,005,537* | Big 12 | $4,000,000 | $2,250,000 | $300,000 | $24,333,333 |
| Tony Elliott | Virginia | $4,450,000* | ACC | $4,450,000 | $1,600,000 | — | $23,216,667 |
| Mike Gundy | Oklahoma State | $7,500,000* | Big 12 | $7,500,000 | $900,000 | $125,000 | $20,494,792 |
| P.J. Fleck | Minnesota | $5,000,000 | Big Ten | $5,000,000 | $1,100,000 | $425,000 | $19,770,833 |
| Dana Holgorsen | Houston | $4,200,000* | AAC | $4,200,000 | $730,000 | $80,000 | $19,130,000 |
| Mike Norvell | Florida State | $4,500,000* | ACC | $4,500,000 | $1,400,000 | $125,000 | $18,806,250 |
| Dan Lanning | Oregon | $4,700,000* | Pac-12 | $4,700,000 | $2,125,000 | — | $17,686,667 |
| Neal Brown | West Virginia | $4,005,000* | Big 12 | $4,005,000 | $1,300,000 | $80,000 | $16,991,667 |
| Steve Sarkisian | Texas | $5,400,000 | Big 12 | $5,400,000 | $825,000 | $0 | $16,835,000 |
| Greg Schiano | Rutgers | $4,000,000* | Big Ten | $4,000,000 | $1,600,000 | $0 | $16,143,750 |
| Jeff Traylor | Texas-San Antonio | $2,500,000 | CUSA | $2,500,000 | $500,000 | $675,000 | $15,665,000 |
| Brent Pry | Virginia Tech | $4,000,000 | ACC | $4,000,000 | $475,000 | — | $15,450,000 |
| Bryan Harsin | Auburn | $5,100,000 | SEC | $5,100,000 | $1,275,000 | $125,000 | $15,277,500 |
| Kyle Whittingham | Utah | $6,000,000 | Pac-12 | $6,000,000 | $1,185,000 | $805,000 | $15,250,000 |
| Kalen DeBoer | Washington | $3,100,008* | Pac-12 | $3,100,008 | $1,175,000 | — | $13,916,700 |
| Jonathan Smith | Oregon State | $3,750,000* | Pac-12 | $3,750,000 | $1,275,000 | $25,000 | $13,072,500 |
| Chris Klieman | Kansas State | $3,700,000* | Big 12 | $3,700,000 | $550,000 | $50,000 | $12,900,000 |
| Joey McGuire | Texas Tech | $3,280,000* | Big 12 | $3,280,000 | $1,000,000 | — | $11,888,636 |
| Lance Leipold | Kansas | $2,400,000 | Big 12 | $2,400,000 | $1,275,000 | $0 | $11,480,000 |
| Mike Locksley | Maryland | $4,000,000 | Big Ten | $4,000,000 | $1,525,000 | $85,000 | $11,266,667 |
| Dave Doeren | NC State | $5,000,000 | ACC | $5,000,000 | $1,350,000 | $325,000 | $10,208,333 |
| Bret Bielema | Illinois | $4,300,000 | Big Ten | $4,300,000 | $1,500,000 | $50,000 | $10,125,000 |
| Eliah Drinkwitz | Missouri | $4,000,000 | SEC | $4,000,000 | $850,000 | $50,000 | $8,750,000 |
| Jim Mora | Connecticut | $1,500,000 | INDEP | $1,500,000 | $500,000 | — | $6,125,000 |
| Brady Hoke | San Diego State | $1,223,100 | MWC | $1,223,100 | $730,000 | $145,000 | $6,105,875 |
| Jeff Tedford | Fresno State | $1,500,000 | MWC | $1,500,000 | $1,350,000 | — | $5,950,000 |
| Blake Anderson | Utah State | $1,325,000* | MWC | $1,325,000 | $680,000 | $175,000 | $5,614,063 |
| Mike Houston | East Carolina | $2,480,804* | AAC | $2,474,000 | $1,295,000 | $50,000 | $5,600,000 |
| Shane Beamer | South Carolina | $2,750,000 | SEC | $2,750,000 | $1,450,000 | $100,000 | $5,511,458 |
| Gus Malzahn | Central Florida | $2,300,000 | AAC | $2,300,000 | $500,000 | $50,000 | $5,318,750 |
| Jedd Fisch | Arizona | $2,700,000 | Pac-12 | $2,300,000 | $1,000,000 | $0 | $5,200,000 |
| Scott Satterfield | Louisville | $3,250,000 | ACC | $3,250,000 | $975,000 | $200,000 | $5,078,125 |
| Shawn Clark | Appalachian State | $900,020* | S-Belt | $900,020 | $455,000 | $80,000 | $5,000,000 |
| Rick Stockstill | Middle Tennessee | $932,504 | CUSA | $901,504 | $134,475 | $73,475 | $4,998,700 |
| Brent Brennan | San Jose State | $1,930,000 | MWC | $1,930,000 | $400,000 | $20,000 | $4,903,333 |
| Chip Kelly | UCLA | $5,600,000* | Pac-12 | $5,600,000 | $1,085,000 | $170,000 | $4,223,333 |
| Andy Avalos | Boise State | $1,475,000 | MWC | $1,475,000 | $200,000 | $15,000 | $4,026,418 |
| Jay Norvell | Colorado State | $1,600,000* | MWC | $1,600,000 | $975,000 | — | $4,000,000 |
| Tyson Helton | Western Kentucky | $916,816 | CUSA | $912,016 | $450,000 | $150,000 | $4,000,000 |
| Mack Brown | North Carolina | $5,000,000 | ACC | $4,300,000 | $1,000,000 | $125,000 | $3,712,500 |
| Jake Dickert | Washington State | $2,700,000 | Pac-12 | $2,700,000 | $700,000 | $25,000 | $3,712,500 |
| Ryan Silverfield | Memphis | $1,850,000 | AAC | $1,850,000 | $500,000 | $85,000 | $3,602,500 |
| Craig Bohl | Wyoming | $1,603,254* | MWC | $1,603,254 | $500,000 | $172,709 | $3,534,333 |
| Sonny Cumbie | Louisiana Tech | $900,000 | CUSA | $900,000 | $1,060,000 | — | $3,089,583 |
| Curt Cignetti | James Madison | $621,008* | S-Belt | $621,008 | $390,000 | — | $3,010,587 |
| Don Brown | Massachusetts | $829,600* | INDEP | $829,600 | $625,000 | — | $2,906,585 |
| Jon Sumrall | Troy | $825,000* | S-Belt | $825,000 | $375,000 | — | $2,762,500 |
| Jamey Chadwell | Coastal Carolina | $922,000 | S-Belt | $904,500 | $1,300,000 | $750,000 | $2,663,188 |
| Ricky Rahne | Old Dominion | $817,911 | S-Belt | $817,911 | $415,000 | $25,000 | $2,504,853 |
| Will Hall | Southern Mississippi | $800,900 | S-Belt | $800,000 | $675,000 | $0 | $2,466,667 |
| Marcus Arroyo | UNLV | $1,550,000 | MWC | $1,550,000 | $445,000 | $10,000 | $2,459,375 |
| Jim McElwain | Central Michigan | $879,120 | MAC | $879,120 | $560,000 | $80,000 | $2,200,000 |
| Thomas Hammock | Northern Illinois | $666,221* | MAC | $666,221 | $526,000 | $87,000 | $2,090,162 |
| Butch Jones | Arkansas State | $825,000 | S-Belt | $825,000 | $442,500 | $0 | $2,041,667 |
| Michael Desormeaux | UL Lafayette | $805,000* | S-Belt | $805,000 | $430,000 | — | $1,727,250 |
| Sean Lewis | Kent State | $530,000 | MAC | $530,000 | $406,000 | $50,000 | $1,718,333 |
| Clay Helton | Georgia Southern | $730,000* | S-Belt | $730,000 | $720,000 | — | $1,708,750 |
| Will Healy | Charlotte | $835,742 | CUSA | $835,742 | $1,465,000 | $0 | $1,696,516 |
| Kane Wommack | South Alabama | $722,700* | S-Belt | $713,500 | $295,000 | $0 | $1,694,667 |
| Charles Huff | Marshall | $755,500 | S-Belt | $755,500 | $1,305,000 | $80,000 | $1,636,917 |
| Willie Taggart | Florida Atlantic | $775,000 | CUSA | $775,000 | $500,000 | $0 | $1,614,583 |
| Seth Littrell | North Texas | $1,897,500* | CUSA | $1,897,500 | $580,000 | $35,000 | $1,575,000 |
| Mike MacIntyre | Florida International | $750,000 | CUSA | $750,000 | $455,000 | — | $1,515,625 |
| Ken Wilson | Nevada | $960,000* | MWC | $960,000 | $450,000 | — | $1,500,000 |
| Shawn Elliott | Georgia State | $809,000 | S-Belt | $809,000 | $330,000 | $50,000 | $1,500,000 |
| Maurice Linguist | Buffalo | $684,500 | MAC | $684,500 | $285,000 | $0 | $1,493,875 |
| Dana Dimel | Texas El Paso | $804,000 | CUSA | $800,000 | $851,671 | $61,833 | $1,446,167 |
| Joe Moorhead | Akron | $500,000 | MAC | $500,000 | $620,000 | — | $1,301,563 |
| Timmy Chang | Hawaii | $500,010* | MWC | $500,010 | $1,340,000 | — | $1,256,061 |
| Danny Gonzales | New Mexico | $700,000 | MWC | $700,000 | $180,000 | $10,000 | $900,000 |
| Mike Neu | Ball State | $655,000 | MAC | $650,000 | $410,000 | $50,000 | $900,000 |
| Chris Creighton | Eastern Michigan | $560,000* | MAC | $560,000 | $440,000 | $60,000 | $900,000 |
| Jason Candle | Toledo | $1,175,300 | MAC | $1,175,000 | $635,000 | $80,000 | $758,333 |
| Chuck Martin | Miami (Ohio) | $560,000 | MAC | $560,000 | $527,330 | $46,254 | $750,000 |
| Scot Loeffler | Bowling Green | $549,438 | MAC | $539,438 | $190,000 | $0 | $584,391 |
| Tim Lester | Western Michigan | $802,500 | MAC | $800,000 | $358,500 | $79,500 | $500,000 |
| Jake Spavital | Texas State | $800,000 | S-Belt | $800,000 | $79,167 | $12,500 | $400,000 |
| Terry Bowden | UL Monroe | $430,000 | S-Belt | $430,000 | $365,000 | $0 | $180,000 |
| Bryant Vincent | UAB | $416,250* | CUSA | $416,250 | $43,022 | — | $86,044 |
| Tim Albin | Ohio | $546,300 | MAC | $545,700 | $281,855 | $0 | $45,475 |
| Lane Kiffin | Mississippi | $7,250,000* | SEC | $7,250,000 | $2,600,000 | $800,000 | $0 |
| Brent Venables | Oklahoma | $7,000,000* | Big 12 | $7,000,000 | — | — | $0 |
| David Shaw | Stanford | $6,592,230* | Pac-12 | $6,592,230 | — | — | $0 |
| Sam Pittman | Arkansas | $6,000,000* | SEC | $6,000,000 | $1,450,000 | $175,000 | $0 |
| Pat Narduzzi | Pittsburgh | $5,644,937 | ACC | $5,644,937 | — | — | $0 |
| Mike Leach | Mississippi State | $5,500,000* | SEC | $5,500,000 | $1,400,000 | $100,000 | $0 |
| Pat Fitzgerald | Northwestern | $5,372,318 | Big Ten | $5,372,318 | — | $0 | $0 |
| Paul Chryst | Wisconsin | $5,250,000* | Big Ten | $5,250,000 | $1,250,000 | $50,000 | $0 |
| Herm Edwards | Arizona State | $4,062,500* | Pac-12 | $3,900,000 | $5,593,000 | $520,000 | $0 |
| Scott Frost | Nebraska | $4,000,000* | Big Ten | $4,000,000 | $950,000 | $0 | $0 |
| Dino Babers | Syracuse | $3,983,295 | ACC | $3,983,295 | — | — | $0 |
| Dave Aranda | Baylor | $3,813,832 | Big 12 | $3,813,832 | — | — | $0 |
| Karl Dorrell | Colorado | $3,600,000* | Pac-12 | $3,600,000 | $1,700,000 | $0 | $0 |
| Dave Clawson | Wake Forest | $3,419,240 | ACC | $3,419,240 | — | — | $0 |
| Geoff Collins | Georgia Tech | $3,305,000* | ACC | $3,305,000 | $1,300,000 | $0 | $0 |
| Jeff Hafley | Boston College | $2,968,912 | ACC | $2,968,912 | — | — | $0 |
| Jeff Scott | South Florida | $2,400,000* | AAC | $2,400,000 | $420,000 | $0 | $0 |
| Ken Niumatalolo | Navy | $2,316,000* | AAC | $2,316,000 | — | — | $0 |
| Willie Fritz | Tulane | $2,167,000 | AAC | $2,167,000 | — | — | $0 |
| Hugh Freeze | Liberty | $2,071,985 | INDEP | $2,071,985 | — | — | $0 |
| Philip Montgomery | Tulsa | $1,857,582 | AAC | $1,857,582 | — | — | $0 |
| Mike Bloomgren | Rice | $904,044 | CUSA | $904,044 | — | — | $0 |
| Jerry Kill | New Mexico State | $550,000* | INDEP | $550,000 | — | — | $0 |
| Marcus Freeman | Notre Dame | — | INDEP | — | — | — | $0 |
| Troy Calhoun | Air Force | — | MWC | — | — | — | $0 |
| Sonny Dykes | Texas Christian | — | Big 12 | — | — | — | $0 |
| Stan Drayton | Temple | — | AAC | — | — | — | $0 |
| Jeff Monken | Army | — | INDEP | — | — | — | $0 |
| Mario Cristobal | Miami | — | ACC | — | — | — | $0 |
| Clark Lea | Vanderbilt | — | SEC | — | — | — | $0 |
| Rhett Lashlee | Southern Methodist | — | AAC | — | — | — | $0 |
| Mike Elko | Duke | — | ACC | — | — | — | $0 |
| Lincoln Riley | Southern California | — | Pac-12 | — | — | — | $0 |
| Kalani Sitake | Brigham Young | — | INDEP | — | — | — | $0 |
College Basketball Coach Data
| Coach | School | Total Pay | School Pay | Bonuses Paid (2021-22) | 2023 Buyout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Calipari | Kentucky | $8,533,483 | $8,500,000 | $50,000 | $41,343,750 |
| Steve Pikiell | Rutgers | $3,000,000 | $3,000,000 | $50,000 | $30,750,000 |
| Nate Oats | Alabama | $3,418,644* | $3,418,644 | $75,000 | $29,812,500 |
| Brad Underwood | Illinois | $4,600,550* | $4,600,000 | $303,750 | $25,341,667 |
| Rick Barnes | Tennessee | $5,450,000 | $5,450,000 | $1,100,000 | $23,854,167 |
| Kevin Willard | Maryland | $3,900,000* | $3,900,000 | — | $22,950,000 |
| Mick Cronin | UCLA | $4,100,000 | $4,100,000 | $115,000 | $20,000,000 |
| Dana Altman | Oregon | $4,009,500* | $4,000,000 | $0 | $19,595,290 |
| Chris Holtmann | Ohio St. | $3,500,000* | $3,500,000 | $40,000 | $18,597,500 |
| Bruce Pearl | Auburn | $5,449,152 | $5,433,852 | $275,000 | $17,450,000 |
| Matt Painter | Purdue | $3,580,000* | $3,580,000 | $168,620 | $15,862,200 |
| Wes Miller | Cincinnati | $1,581,250 | $1,581,250 | $0 | $15,600,000 |
| Tommy Lloyd | Arizona | $4,000,000 | $3,600,000 | $305,000 | $15,400,000 |
| Matt McMahon | Louisiana State | $3,035,000* | $3,035,000 | — | $14,680,000 |
| Dennis Gates | Missouri | $2,500,000* | $2,500,000 | — | $13,891,667 |
| Tony Bennett | Virginia | $4,830,345* | $4,828,845 | $0 | $13,292,438 |
| Buzz Williams | Texas A&M | $4,100,000 | $4,100,000 | $0 | $13,141,667 |
| Kelvin Sampson | Houston | $3,200,000 | $3,200,000 | $145,000 | $12,800,000 |
| Michael White | Georgia | $3,405,000* | $3,405,000 | — | $12,225,688 |
| Greg Gard | Wisconsin | $3,637,500 | $3,550,000 | $120,000 | $12,000,000 |
| Mike Woodson | Indiana | $3,075,000* | $3,075,000 | $127,500 | $12,000,000 |
| Wayne Tinkle | Oregon St. | $2,674,012* | $2,664,012 | $0 | $11,897,013 |
| Eric Musselman | Arkansas | $4,100,000* | $4,100,000 | $275,000 | $11,719,167 |
| Mike Boynton | Oklahoma State | $3,000,000* | $3,000,000 | $0 | $11,250,000 |
| Tad Boyle | Colorado | $2,425,000 | $2,425,000 | $135,000 | $10,178,750 |
| Fred Hoiberg | Nebraska | $3,250,000 | $3,250,000 | $0 | $10,000,000 |
| T.J. Otzelberger | Iowa State | $2,000,000* | $2,000,000 | $150,000 | $9,500,000 |
| Craig Smith | Utah | $1,950,000 | $1,550,000 | $0 | $8,800,000 |
| Steve Alford | Nevada | $1,225,000 | $1,200,000 | $0 | $8,550,000 |
| Todd Golden | Florida | $3,100,000* | $2,700,000 | — | $8,506,875 |
| Ben Johnson | Minnesota | $2,009,000 | $2,009,000 | $75,000 | $8,190,538 |
| Kenny Payne | Louisville | $3,494,026* | $3,494,026 | — | $8,000,000 |
| Mike Young | Virginia Tech | $2,500,000 | $2,500,000 | $300,000 | $8,000,000 |
| Mark Adams | Texas Tech | $3,108,000 | $3,000,000 | $165,000 | $7,500,000 |
| Jerome Tang | Kansas State | $2,100,000* | $2,100,000 | — | $7,350,000 |
| Kevin Keatts | NC State | $2,803,746 | $2,782,181 | $25,000 | $7,220,579 |
| Mike Rhoades | VCU | $1,722,950 | $1,722,950 | $91,000 | $7,035,379 |
| Tom Izzo | Michigan St | $5,738,727* | $5,313,727 | $25,000 | $7,000,000 |
| Fran McCaffery | Iowa | $3,208,000* | $3,200,000 | $280,000 | $6,570,000 |
| Lamont Paris | South Carolina | $2,200,000* | $2,200,000 | — | $6,370,000 |
| Mike Hopkins | Washington | $3,015,008 | $3,000,008 | $25,000 | $6,300,004 |
| Brian Dutcher | San Diego St. | $1,353,100 | $1,353,100 | $90,000 | $5,995,000 |
| Bill Self | Kansas | $5,963,800 | $5,663,800 | $575,000 | $5,410,000 |
| Kyle Smith | Washington St. | $1,500,000 | $1,500,000 | $25,000 | $5,280,000 |
| Josh Pastner | Georgia Tech | $2,602,000 | $2,600,000 | $100,000 | $5,170,000 |
| Isaac Brown | Wichita St. | $1,003,400 | $1,000,000 | $0 | $4,083,333 |
| Juwan Howard | Michigan | $3,616,000* | $3,615,000 | $100,000 | $4,000,000 |
| Leonard Hamilton | Florida State | $2,250,000 | $2,250,000 | $25,000 | $3,984,375 |
| Mark Fox | California | $1,725,000 | $1,725,000 | $50,000 | $3,675,000 |
| Bobby Hurley | Arizona State | $2,610,000 | $2,600,000 | $150,000 | $3,250,000 |
| LeVelle Moton | North Carolina Central | $355,284 | $344,784 | $28,397 | $2,758,272 |
| Bob Huggins | West Virginia | $4,150,000 | $4,150,000 | $50,000 | $2,593,750 |
| Brad Brownell | Clemson | $2,771,166 | $2,750,000 | $25,000 | $2,405,000 |
| Hubert Davis | North Carolina | $2,450,000 | $1,550,000 | $470,000 | $2,100,000 |
| Steve Prohm | Murray St. | $520,000 | $520,000 | — | $1,690,000 |
| Jonas Hayes | Georgia St | $505,500 | $504,000 | — | $1,250,000 |
| John Becker | Vermont | $364,971 | $364,971 | $117,500 | $1,186,156 |
| Johnny Jones | Texas Southern | $275,000 | $275,000 | $115,000 | $893,750 |
| Eric Henderson | South Dakota State | $300,000 | $300,000 | $45,000 | $275,000 |
| Chris Beard | Texas | $5,005,000* | $5,005,000 | $150,000 | $0 |
| Ed Cooley | Providence | $3,751,112 | $3,751,112 | — | $0 |
| Scott Drew | Baylor | $3,706,581 | $3,706,581 | — | $0 |
| Jeff Capel | Pittsburgh | $3,614,588 | $3,614,588 | — | $0 |
| Jamie Dixon | Texas Christian | $3,512,107 | $3,512,107 | — | $0 |
| Andy Enfield | Southern California | $3,511,285 | $3,511,285 | — | $0 |
| Kermit Davis | Mississippi | $3,152,500* | $3,150,000 | $75,000 | $0 |
| Jerry Stackhouse | Vanderbilt | $3,138,107 | $3,138,107 | — | $0 |
| Chris Collins | Northwestern | $2,893,064 | $2,893,064 | — | $0 |
| Porter Moser | Oklahoma | $2,800,000* | $2,800,000 | — | $0 |
| Jim Boeheim | Syracuse | $2,583,225* | $2,583,225 | — | $0 |
| Jim Larranaga | Miami-Florida | $2,562,916 | $2,562,916 | — | $0 |
| Mike Brey | Notre Dame | $2,500,587 | $2,500,587 | — | $0 |
| Chris Jans | Mississippi State | $2,400,000* | $2,400,000 | — | $0 |
| Greg McDermott | Creighton | $2,143,312 | $2,143,312 | — | $0 |
| Mark Few | Gonzaga | $1,877,687 | $1,877,687 | — | $0 |
| Steve Forbes | Wake Forest | $1,113,601* | $1,113,601 | — | $0 |
| Randy Bennett | St. Mary's | $947,649 | $947,649 | — | $0 |
| Rick Pitino | Iona | $612,297* | $612,297 | — | $0 |
| Matt Langel | Colgate | $482,077 | $482,077 | — | $0 |
| Greg Heiar | New Mexico St. | $300,000* | $300,000 | — | $0 |
| Drew Valentine | Loyola-Chicago | — | — | — | $0 |
| Jon Scheyer | Duke | — | — | — | $0 |
| Earl Grant | Boston College | — | — | — | $0 |
| Shaheen Holloway | Seton Hall | — | — | — | $0 |
| Micah Shrewsberry | Penn St. | — | — | — | $0 |
| Shaka Smart | Marquette | — | — | — | $0 |
| Jerod Haase | Stanford | — | — | — | $0 |
| Kyle Neptune | Villanova | — | — | — | $0 |
Methodology
All of the contractual data was obtained by our veteran researcher, Dan Tracey. Sources included press releases from Universities and Colleges, quotes made on the record by the coaches who signed said contracts, and third-party reporting from sources including Sports Illustrated, ESPN, 247Sports, and Boardroom.TV and South Carolina’s newspaper of record, The State. The article itself was written by Michael Calabrese, an editor at OLBG with over 15 years of sports journalism experience.
Contributor Information
We are spoiled with our Expert team at OLBG with our Commercial Content manager Luke Bradshaw-Lee being a keen UK-based NFL fan attending London games and burning the midnight oil to catch all the weekend action, He is ably assisted with inside info from, Michael Calabrese [@EastBreese] ; an Action Network correspondent and College sports podcaster in the US with the deepest football knowledge we have ever come across. They combine to create the best American Football content on OLBG which assists our tipsters in making their NFL predictions in the tipping competition.
The data in this article is maintained and updated regularly by Andy Powell and James Banting from our Tipster Competition team who settle and manage all the tips in that seection
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