ESPN: B1G head coaches among FBS highest paid (Kill 45th nationally)

per ESPN:

Michigan State's Mark Dantonio surprisingly, checks in at No. 2 at more than $5.6 million in compensation, behind only his former boss, Alabama's Nick Saban.

Ohio State's Urban Meyer checks in at No. 6 at just over $4.5 million, followed by Penn State's James Franklin (No. 8 overall at $4.3 million) and Iowa's Kirk Ferentz (No. 9, $4.075 million). Note that the figure for Franklin is based on a proposed financial term sheet released by the school, which declined to make Franklin's actual contract public.

Surprised not to see Michigan in the Top 10? Brady Hoke checks in at a relatively (key word) modest $2.85 million, good for only No. 30 in the FBS. Hoke ranked in the top 10 last year because of a large retention bonus he received. If the Wolverines make a coaching change and decide to land an established head coach, they could easily pay in the $3 million to $4 million range. Maybe more, if they could reel in a truly big fish like Les Miles or one of the Harbaughs.

The difference between the Big Ten and the SEC in salaries is much like the on-field rankings: depth. Twelve of the 14 SEC coaches are ranked in the Top 30 in salary and all 14 are ranked in the Top 34. Just six of the Big Ten coaches are in the top 30, which is one less than the Big 12 has. The SEC also boasts eight of the top 20 highest-paid coaches in the FBS, while half of the Big Ten's 14 coaches are ranked No. 41 or lower.

Here's how the Big Ten coaches stack up:

2. Mark Dantonio – $5,636,145
6. Urban Meyer – $4,536,640
8. James Franklin – $4,300,00
9. Kirk Ferentz – $4,075,000
24. Bo Pelini – $3,077,646
30. Brady Hoke – $2,856,000
39. Pat Fitzgerald – $2,480,967
41. Gary Andersen – $2,285,000
45. Jerry Kill – $2,100,000
46. Darrell Hazell – $2,090,000
47. Randy Edsall – $2,033,880
52. Tim Beckman – $1,950,250
66. Kevin Wilson – $1,301,644
73. Kyle Flood – $987,000

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/111298/b1g-head-coaches-among-fbs-highest-paid

Go Gophers!!

Does this mean Jerry is due for a raise to keep him in the top half? Or was that a clause for the assistant salary pool?

Tim Riggins said:

Does this mean Jerry is due for a raise to keep him in the top half? Or was that a clause for the assistant salary pool?

Click to expand...

That clause was for the assistants.

Tim Riggins said:

Does this mean Jerry is due for a raise to keep him in the top half? Or was that a clause for the assistant salary pool?

Click to expand...

Kill's contract has $100k annual increases built in. E.g., in 6 weeks his guaranteed base, including supplemental retirement contributions, will increase $100k.

Coaching contracts are increasingly complicated and databases like the one USA Today publishes are flawed if you're trying to compare compensation of one coach vs. another.

The assistant coach pool (for nine coaches) clause will only ensure top 6 status for that group until June 2015 (and based on survey data that should have gotten released earlier this month). The top 6 then goes away. Sort of a one time "catch up" but no requirement/commitment to keep them there going forward.

Kill has some fairly easy incentives to earn - and a lot of them - could certainly get around $275k or more this year on bonuses.

Kill will put his assistance coaches pay raises over his own first. He takes care of his loyal staffers.