You can’t win a conference title or College Football Playoff national championship without money these days. Not only does it go to players through Name, Image and Likeness, but there’s also licensing, facilities, and more that gets stirred into the ingredients of winning at a big time college football program.
Part of that too is what kind of cash a program like the Ohio State football program throws at its coaching staff. Of course, we know that head coach Ryan Day earns a healthy sum in base salary, but the OSU program has also made it a point to lure and retain high-level assistant coaches.
But did you know what each assistant on staff at Ohio State makes? We’ll tell you it’s a handsome sum for all of them, and OSU is one most well compensated coaching staffs in the Big Ten, and entire country. So yeah, to much is given, much is expected — and that’s partly why coaching on the banks of the Olentangy is a pressure cooker and not for everyone.
USA TODAY has released its database of assistant coaching salaries and we’re here to let you know what each coach donning the Scarlet and Gray is making, ranked by total base revenue. Some of the figures may surprise you.
10
James Laurinaitis, Linebackers Coach
USA TODAY SMG
Total Pay | $350,000
Years on Staff | 2
Hometown | Wayzata, Minnesota
9
Keenan Bailey, Tight Ends Coach
Adam Cairns-The Columbus Dispatch
Total Pay | $400,000
Years on Staff | 7
Hometown | Pompano Beach, Florida
8
Matt Guerrieri, Safeties Coach
USA TODAY SMG
Total Pay | $425,000
Years on Staff | 1
Hometown | Willoughby Hills, Ohio
7
Carlos Locklyn, Running Backs Coach
USA TODAY SMG
Total Pay | $650,000*
Years on Staff | 1
Hometown | Montgomery, Alabama
*In addition, Ohio State agreed to pay a $200,000 buyout to Locklyn for his buyout at Oregon. OSU also agreed to an unknown sum to lesson his tax impact.
6
Justin Frye, Associate Head Coach for Offense/Offensive Line Coach
USA TODAY SMG
Total Pay | $1,000,000
Years on Staff | 2
Hometown | Ellwood, Indiana
5
Tim Walton, Secondary Coach/Cornerbacks Coach
Adam Cairns-The Columbus Dispatch
Total Pay | $1,400,000
Years on Staff | 2
Hometown | Columbus, Georgia
4
Larry Johnson, Associate Head Coach/Defensive Line Coach
Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch
Total Pay | $1,400,000
Years on Staff | 9
Hometown | Williamston, North Carolina
3
Brian Hartline, Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach
USA TODAY SMG
Total Pay | $1,600,000
Years on Staff | 7
Hometown | North Canton, Ohio
2
Chip Kelley, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
USA TODAY SMG
Total Pay | $2,000,000*
Years on Staff | In 1st Year
Hometown | North Canton, Ohio
* In addition to Total Pay, Ohio State agreed to pay UCLA $1.5 million to cover the buyout that Kelly owed that school. Ohio State also agreed to pay an amount, to be determined, to reduce the tax impact on Kelly.
1
Jim Knowles, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Total Pay | $2,200,000
Years on Staff | 2
Hometown | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.