The 15 Highest-Paid Coaches in College Football

South Carolina's head coach Spurrier looks toward the score board in a loss to Florida during their NCAA college football game in Gainesville

15) Steve Spurrier South Carolina's head coach Spurrier looks toward the score board in a loss to Florida during their NCAA college football game in Gainesville

University of South Carolina Gamecocks
Salary: $4 million

Before resigning in October, midway through his 11th season at South Carolina, Spurrier was the highest-paid public employee in the Palmetto State.

Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz speaks with an assistant coach on the sidelines during his team's play against Georgia Tech in the FedEx Orange Bowl BCS NCAA football game in Miami

14) Kirk Ferentz Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz speaks with an assistant coach on the sidelines during his team's play against Georgia Tech in the FedEx Orange Bowl BCS NCAA football game in Miami

University of Iowa Hawkeyes
Salary: $4.1 million

Ferentz won the Dodd Trophy for Coach of the Year in 2015 for a program that “embodies the award’s three pillars of scholarship, leadership and integrity.” Ferentz is the highest paid state employee in Iowa.

13) Gus Malzahn NCAA Football: Auburn at Mississippi

Auburn University Tigers
Salary: $4.1 million

Malzahn’s win over Memphis at the Birmingham Bowl resulted in his 24th consecutive winning season as head coach at Auburn.

12) Mark Richt NCAA Football: Alabama at Georgia

University of Georgia Bulldogs
Salary: $4 million

Richt started the year at the University of Georgia with a contract worth $4 million, but he was fired late in the season. He reportedly will be the head coach at the University of Miami next year.

11) Art Briles Baylor head coach Briles reacts against Oklahoma in their NCAA Big 12 football game in Waco

Baylor University Bears
Salary: $4.4 million

With his three best players injured and out of the game, Briles still managed to lead his team to victory in the Russell Athletics Bowl against North Carolina in late December.

10) Hugh Freeze NCAA Football: Mississippi at Alabama

University of Mississippi Rebels
Salary: $4.3 million

The highest paid public employee in Mississippi, Freeze joined Ole Miss in 2011 and has since made four straight bowl games.

9) Les Miles NCAA Football: Louisiana State at Alabama

Louisiana State University Tigers
Salary: $4.4 million

Miles’ Tigers struggled in the last few weeks of the season, leading to public rumors of Miles’ imminent dismissal, but the coach managed to hang onto his gig. Miles is the highest paid public employee in Louisiana.

8) James Franklin NCAA Football: Penn State-Press Conference

Penn State Nittany Lions
Salary: $4.4 million

Franklin has been rebuilding the Penn State team after its decimation following sanctions and scandals that led to the retirement of his predecessor, the once beloved Joe Paterno. Franklin is the highest-paid public employee in Pennsylvania.

7) Kevin Sumlin NCAA Football: Music City Bowl-Texas A&M vs Louisville

Texas A&M Aggies
Salary: $5 million

The Aggies had a losing season this year, but Sumlin’s contract, which goes through 2019, is worth another $20 million.

6) Charlie Strong

University of Texas Longhorns
Salary: $5.1 million

The highest paid public employee in Texas, Strong has gone 11-14 since joining Texas two years ago, causing some to call for his ouster.

University of Texas

5) Jimbo Fisher NCAA Football: Florida State at Florida

Florida State Seminoles
Salary: $5.2 million

Fisher won a national championship in 2013 and has reached a bowl game in each of the last four years. He is the highest paid public employee in Florida.

4) Bob Stoops NCAA Football: Sugar Bowl-Alabama vs Oklahoma

University of Oklahoma Sooners
Salary: $5.4 million

The Sooners haven’t won a national championship since 2000, a year after Stoops took over as head coach. Stoops is the highest paid public employee in Oklahoma.

3) Urban Meyer NCAA Football: Ohio State at Rutgers

Ohio State Buckeyes
Salary: $5.9 million

Urban Meyer has won three national championships, including one last season with his current team and two in Florida. Meyer is the highest paid public employee in Ohio.

2) Jim Harbaugh NCAA Football: Oregon State at Michigan

University of Michigan Wolverines
Salary: $7 million

Harbaugh led the Wolverines to a 10-3 season, joining the team this year after struggling as coach of the San Francisco 49ers. Harbaugh is the highest-paid public employee in Michigan.

1) Nick Saban NCAA Football: Cotton Bowl-Michigan State vs Alabama

University of Alabama Crimson Tide
Salary: $7.1 million

Saban, the highest-paid public employee in the country, is widely considered the best coach in the game. He’s won three national championships with Alabama and one with Louisiana State University.