News

Alabama’s Nick Saban Tops NCAA Football’s Highest-Paid Coaches List With $11M Salary

Alabama head football coach Nick Saban leads USA Today Sports’ highest-paid coaches this season, as he is set to earn $11.1 million.

Nick Saban 2017 Salary News

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.

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!

A week of sports news in your in-box.
We find the sports news you need to know, so you don't have to.

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.

Pablo Mena

Writer and assistant editor for usports.org. NY Giants and Rangers fan. Film and TV enthusiast (especially Harry Potter and The Office) and lover of foreign languages and cultures.

Recent Posts

Paul George Exits With Knee Injury As 76ers Fall To 2-12 In Loss To Grizzlies

With their big three finally back in action Wednesday, the Philadelphia 76ers suffered another setback…

3 hours ago

VIDEO: Nike Pays Tribute to Rafael Nadal With 30-Foot Projection In Front of Eiffel Tower

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/tny--EWynOQ Nike paid tribute to Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal with a 10-meter-tall animated display…

21 hours ago

VIDEO: Rafael Nadal Gets Emotional Tribute as He Retires From Tennis

https://youtu.be/dtJoJz9hC48 Tennis legend Rafael Nadal bid a heartfelt goodbye to his devoted Spanish fans as he brought…

21 hours ago

VIDEO EXCLUSIVE: U.S. Olympic Fencer Eli Dershwitz Explains The Art Of Fencing

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/DQ9Rxhnuer4 U.S. Olympic fencer Eli Dershwitz shed light on the critical skills necessary in fencing…

2 days ago

Two Bears Offensive Linemen Return To Practice, Caleb Williams Desperate For Blocking

Two offensive linemen for the Chicago Bears returned to practice, a massive step in the…

3 days ago

VIDEO: UFC Heavyweight Champion Performs Viral Trump Dance In New York

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/s2g9t_33Myw President-elect Donald Trump received a warm welcome from Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter Jon…

4 days ago