Alabama coach Nick Saban during the All State Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 1, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Image: Getty)
Alabama head football coach Nick Saban leads USA Today Sports’ highest-paid coaches this season, as he is set to earn $11.1 million.
The 65-year-old’s salary includes a $4 million bonus the Crimson Tide refers to as a “contract extension signing initiative.” Saban’s whopping payday marks the most money a coach has earned at a public school since USA Today began tracking salaries in 2006.
Rounding out the top five in salaries this season are Clemson coach Dabo Swinney at about $8.5 million, Michigan Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh at $7 million, Ohio State Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer at $6.4 million and Arizona Wildcats coach Rich Rodriguez at $5.6 million.
During his first year at Alabama, Saban’s salary was $3.5 million, behind Oklahoma Sooners coach Bob Stoops.
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USA Today reports that when it began analyzing coaches’ salaries, the average was about $950,000 a year. That would be about $1.2 million today, adjusted for inflation.
When asked if he believed he deserved to earn $11K, Saban said, “Probably not.”
Saban’s salary also nears the median total compensation for CEOs, which is $11.5 million, according to 2017’s Equilar/Associated Press pay study of CEOs with at least two years’ experience at S&P 500 companies.
The median compensation for head football coaches is a little more than $3.3 million in the five wealthiest conferences (Atlantic Coast, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12 and Southeastern) plus Notre Dame. That’s up by almost $1 million since 2013.
Saban’s salary is higher than the $8.3 million earned in 2015 by the CEO of Alabama’s largest, public non-financial company, per figures published this year by Business Alabama.
The Crimson Tide — which lost to Clemson in this year’s championship game — is undefeated (8-0) this season and leads the SEC West. Alabama defeated Tennessee 45-7 on Saturday and next hosts LSU on Nov. 4.
Alabama coach Nick Saban during the All State Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 1, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
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