Who Is The Highest Paid Coach In College Football

Okay, let’s talk about the real MVP of college football. It’s not the quarterback with the rocket arm. It’s the guy on the sideline, wearing a headset and a massive, massive paycheck.

We’re talking about the highest paid coach in the game. The answer is Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs. Yes, the man who sweats in a visor now makes around $13 million a year. That’s more than most NFL coaches. It’s more than the GDP of a small island.

Why is this so fun to talk about?

Because it’s ridiculous. We’re paying a man to yell about blocking schemes. Thirteen million dollars for “Hut, hut, hike!” But it works. Georgia has won two national titles under him.

Think about that number for a second. Kirby Smart earns roughly $36,000 per day. Every single day. Even on Tuesdays. Even when he’s just eating a sandwich.

The Money Tree Grows in Athens

College football is a monster. It’s a cash cow with a mullet. The top programs—Georgia, Alabama, Clemson—pull in over $200 million a year in revenue. So a $13 million salary? That’s chump change to the beast.

The real shocker? Nick Saban used to top this list. The GOAT. The guy with the icy stare and the championship rings. Now retired, he’s sitting on a beach, laughing. But Kirby took his crown. Literally and figuratively.

A Quick, Quirky List of Coach Cash

Let’s look at the other big spenders. It’s a hilarious game of “who has the fattest wallet.” Here’s the top tier:

Kirby Smart (Georgia) – $13 million. He’s paid more than the entire coaching staff of some NFL teams. He also has a personal security detail. For what? Does someone steal his visor?

Steve Sarkisian (Texas) – Around $10.6 million. Texas has a lot of oil money. And a lot of hype. Sark gets paid like he already won a title. Spoiler: he hasn’t. Yet.

Dabo Swinney (Clemson) – $11 million. He’s the guy who preaches “all in” and then cashes a check bigger than a small plane. He once wore toilet paper as a scarf. No joke.

Highest-paid college football coaches

Brian Kelly (LSU) – $10 million. He left Notre Dame for this bag. He also does push-ups when his team scores. Dude is 62. Respect the hustle.

Lincoln Riley (USC) – $10 million. He bailed on Oklahoma for California sun and a fat contract. He literally texted a recruit while driving. That’s a $10 million work ethic.

The Quirky, Funny Details

Here’s the best part: Kirby Smart doesn’t even call all the plays. He’s a CEO. He hires geniuses to draw up the X’s and O’s. He just stands there looking intense. And he’s paid like a tech CEO.

Also, these guys get bonuses for winning. Kirby got an extra $2 million for winning the SEC championship. That’s more than your house. My house. Probably my whole street.

And get this—they get cars. Free cars. Kirby gets a fleet of vehicles from a local dealership. He doesn’t drive them all. He probably just parks them in a garage and stares at them.

Why Does This Matter to You?

It doesn’t. Not really. But it’s fun to imagine. Imagine your boss paying you $13 million to yell about spreadsheets. Imagine getting a $100,000 bonus for a “good quarter.” That’s college football coaching.

It’s also a sign of the times. The game is a business. A gladiator business. The coach is the emperor. And we all watch the colosseum.

College football's best paid coaches: How Kalen DeBoer and Steve

But here’s the twist: Players are now getting paid too. Thanks to NIL (Name, Image, Likeness), a quarterback at Alabama can make more than the coach’s assistant. It’s chaos. Beautiful, glorious chaos.

The Future of the Cash Parade

Will Kirby Smart stay at $13 million? Probably not. Next year, someone will sign a $15 million deal. Maybe Chris Klieman from Kansas State? (Kidding. Sort of.) The point is, this number keeps rising.

College football is addicted to spending. It’s like a game of Monopoly where everyone has a printing press. And the coach is the top hat. Or the thimble. The champion thimble.

So next time you see Kirby Smart on TV, do a little math. That finger point you just saw? That was $37,000. That sigh he let out? $4,200. He’s a piggy bank in a polo shirt.

The Real Takeaway

Who is the highest paid coach in college football? Kirby Smart. But honestly? It could be you. If you can recruit, scream, and win a title, the money is waiting. Just don’t forget the visor.

And remember: It’s just a game. A very, very expensive game. But a game full of heart, sweat, and massive piles of cash. That’s why we love it.

Go Dawgs. And go get that bag, coach.