Being a College Football head coach at the Power 5 conference level comes with a ton of daily stress similar to that of a CEO at a Fortune 100 company.
However, both jobs come with significant financial perks, which usually include enormous salaries with hefty buyouts, a subject that recently bit Texas A&M in the you know what after firing former head coach Jimbo Fisher, who will receive $70-plus million in compensation over the next decade.
After his dismissal last November, former Texas A&M defensive coordinator and former Duke head coach Mike Elko returned to College Station with complete backing from the University and fan base. He received a salary that fits his experience and prowess despite only two years as a Power 5 head coach.
According to USA TODAY’s updated College Football Head Coach Salary rankings, Elko is the 24th highest-earning head coach, with a total yearly compensation of $7 million, a 3.8 million total bonus earning potential, and a $27 million buyout as of the start of the 2024 calendar year.
Compared to the rest of the SEC head coaches, Elko is the 11th-highest-paid coach in the conference. Here are some of the notable SEC salaries this season, led by Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian:
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Kirby Smart — Georgia: $13,282,580 per season; Buyout: 118,083,333
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Steve Sarkisian — Texas: $10,600,000; Buyout: $55,044,583
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Kalen DeBoer — Alabama: $10 million; Buyout: $70,050,000
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Brian Kelly — LSU: $9,975,000; Buyout: $61,738,333
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Mark Stoops — Kentucky: $9,013,600; Buyout: $44,437,500
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Lane Kiffin — Ole Miss: $9 million; Buyout: $36,590,000
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: How much does Texas A&M HC Mike Elko make per year?
