There are few things as cool as being the head coach of a sports team, but, being an assistant coach, has proven to be a pretty good gig, too. And while the guys who help run things on the sideline don’t nearly make as much as their bosses who are calling the shots, there are plenty of guys who are fortunate enough to have an office that’s a stadium. And because they still make pretty good money, here are the 15 top-paid assistant coaches in NCAA football.
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15. Mike Stoops – Oklahoma, $650,000
Although Mike Stoops didn’t succeed as a head coach during his tenure at the University of Arizona, he was quick to get scooped up by his brother—legendary Oklahoma head coach, Bob Stoops—as the Sooners’ defensive coordinator. OU has always had a tough defense, and the Stoops brothers are a main reason for that, with Mike the latest sibling to be calling the schemes to be in.
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14. Major Applewhite – Texas, $650,000
A former Texas quarterback, Major Applewhite might not have all the blue-chip recruits that the Longhorns are used to from back in the day, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been able to help nurture and groom the guys he does work with. A hot coaching name a few years ago—he hoped to take over in Austin after Mack Brown left this past offseason—Applewhite is trying to establish himself as one of the best play-callers in the game, and is paid nicely for his efforts.
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13. Lorenzo Ward – South Carolina, $655,050
Working alongside the Ol’ Ball Coach, Steve Spurrier, Lorenzo Ward is in charge of making sure the South Carolina Gamecocks’ defense is all set for the big-time, as he has been in Columbia for three seasons now. He has had his fair share of good moments, but might be on his way out after a poor 2014 showing. Either way, he can hang his hat on being the 13th highest-paid assistant this past year, earning $655,050.
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12. Doug Nussmeier – Alabama, $681,500
Doug Nussmeier isn’t with the University of Alabama any longer—since leaving for Michigan and being replaced on the offensive side for the Tide by Lane Kiffin—but because these salaries are from 2013, he finds himself amongst some of the highest earning assistants. As part of the Crimson Tide’s staff, Nussmeier was successful in helping groom former quarterback A.J. McCarron, keeping his mechanics and national title-winning prestige high—which he did quite well.
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11. Tim Beck – Nebraska, $700,000
With the firing of Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini over the weekend, there’s a good chance that Tim Beck might be looking for another job, too. Once linked to a few other openings at school’s around the country, Beck has helped turn the Huskers into a solid offensive team, known for his old school, running style. Lacking a high-powered passing game, Beck has done well in helping the Black Shirts win at least nine games in the time that he has been on the job.
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10. Mark Snyder – Texas A&M, $708,000
With an offense that can seemingly put up points at will, Mark Snyder had a tough time at making sure his Texas A&M defense was well rested when it was their turn to take the field, with poor results since coming to College Station prior to the 2013 season. Still employed by the school, there’s a good chance he’s on his way out now, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t leaving with a hefty paycheck, as he earned $708,000 in 2013.
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9. Al Borges – Michigan, $709,300
Although he is currently unemployed, former Michigan Wolverines offensive coordinator Al Borges was making a solid paycheck while still at the school, pulling in nearly $710,000 in 2013. Failure to produce an offense that could coexist with a defense that routinely ranks high in the national rankings, Borges was let go, but not before taking a lot of the school’s money while on his way out the door.
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8. Ellis Johnson – Auburn, $800,000
Just relieved of his defensive duties for the Auburn Tigers following the torching his team took against the rival Alabama Crimson Tide in this year’s Iron Bowl, Ellis Johnson had served as the coordinator on that side of the ball for two seasons, helping the team reach the national title last year. Unfortunately, it’s a production business, and Johnson’s latest game was one of his worst.
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7. Brent Venables – Clemson, $800,000
One of the top young coaches in the nation, Brent Venables surely has a head coaching future soon, as he just led his Clemson Tigers defense to a top ranking in the national statistics. While the Tigers didn’t have the season they had hoped for following last year’s Orange Bowl win, Venables did his part in helping them try and win as many games as possible, making his $800,000 well worth it.
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6. Justin Wilcox – Washington, $800,004
The former defensive coordinator under Steve Sarkisian at Washington last year, Justin Wilcox left with Sark when he took the head coaching gig at Southern Cal. Still, because these salaries are from 2013, Wilcox found himself amongst the highest-paid assistants in the nation, bringing in over $800,000 while with the Huskies. Seeing how he’s at a bigger program that spends more on football than most, I’m sure he was at or above that salary in 2014, too.
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5. Todd Grantham – Georgia, $850,000
A former defensive coordinator in the NFL, it seems that the former Georgia Bulldogs’ Todd Grantham has found his place in the college game, going from Athens to Louisville this year, and boasting quite the defensive prowess. His teams are known to be aggressive and solid in a number of different categories, and with his experience, it’s not surprising to see the current Cardinals coach making $850,000.
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4. Greg Mattison – Michigan, $851,400
One of the biggest names amongst coaching circles, Greg Mattison is known for boasting a fierce defense that plays nasty and intimidates opponents. Some of his past teams include Notre Dame, Florida, Michigan twice, and the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens. He routinely sends players to the NFL, and knows what it takes to turn a player into a star, which is why he’s so valuable.
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3. John Chavis – LSU, $1.11 million
Heading to LSU before the 2009 season, John Chavis, or “The Chief,” has been grooming players into future NFL stars ever since, helping the Tigers continue their dominance on the defensive side of the ball. While head coach Les Miles gets a lot of credit, deservingly so, it’s Chavis whose D always seems to show up week in and week out, which has helped him crack the $1.1 million mark in annual salary.
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2. Kirby Smart – Alabama, $1.15 million
One of the hottest names in coaching, Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart will, one day, be a head coach—and will, most likely, be very successful at it. Under the guidance of Nick Saban for years, Smart has put himself in position to be considered one of the top assistant coaches in the country, annually boasting defensive stats that are just insane, while also prepping his players for the NFL. It’s no wonder he earns $1.15 million per year.
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1. Chad Morris – Clemson, $1.3 million
Just accepting the head coaching job at Southern Methodist the other day, now former Clemson Tigers offensive coordinator Chad Morris found himself as the top-earning assistant in the country during the 2013—and, most likely—2014 seasons, too. Turning the Tigers into an explosive offense over the years, it’s not only surprising to see him land a head coaching job, but also fall atop this list.
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