Saban, Malzahn ranked among nation’s highest paid coaches

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October 9, 2015

Auburn football coach Gus Malzahn and Alabama football coach Nick Saban — Auburn football coach Gus Malzhan and Alabama football coach Nick Saban

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — It is a well-established fact that Alabamians value college football above pretty much any other form of recreation. The week revolves around Saturday, rivalries build friendly office tensions all season long, and heaven forbid a bride decide to get married on a Saturday in the fall (#BanFallWeddings). Yes, we value college football, but did you know that the coaches at the University of Alabama and Auburn University, Nick Saban and Gus Malzahn didn’t receive largest performance bonuses last year?

That particular honor went to Missouri Tigers head coach Gary Pinkel, who earned $900,000 in bonuses on top of his $3,768,889 base pay despite being defeated by Saban’s Crimson Tide in the SEC Championship 42-13.

To be fair, Saban’s relatively modest bonus of $425,000 still brings his total compensation to more than $7.5 million, and Malzahn’s $125,000 bonus makes his paycheck $4.2 million.

Nationwide, Saban is the highest paid college football coach in the nation, while Malzahn came in at #13.

Here’s how the bonuses and base salaries for the 14 SEC team’s coaches stacked up this year:

(Note: as a private school, Vanderbilt isn’t required to publish their coaches’ salaries)

SEC Coaches pay

Saban’s bonuses were awarded for appearing in the College Football Playoff, winning the SEC Championship, and having high academic outcomes among his players. Malzahn’s bonuses were for appearing in a bowl game and players’ academic success.