Several College Football Coaches Taking Pay Cuts During Coronavirus Sports Shutdown

According to USA Today, the salary range in 2019 for the 122 Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches whose information is available, was $360,000 to $9.3 million.

Suffice to say, pay cuts of 5% or 10% can be easily withstood.

Nonetheless, many coaches are taking pay cuts, voluntary or otherwise, at a time when athletic departments, much like the universities and colleges they represent, are facing unprecedented operational challenges brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

Cancelled events resulting in lost revenue coupled with the uncertainty as to when the doors will reopen have resulted in several measures — such as pay cuts, furloughs and bonus freezes — to help mitigate the financial impact brought upon by the crisis.

Though more cost-reduction measures are certain to be announced, quite a few were reported over the course of the past month. While it may not be comprehensive, below is an alphabetical glimpse at what a number of FBS-affiliated schools have done to date.

Private schools, such as Syracuse and USC, are not required to disclose salarie inofrmation. In such instances, the aforementioned USA Today’s salary index was used to note a coach’s 2019 pay as a point of reference.

Boise State is requiring all university employees making more than $40,000 to take furloughs. Those making more than $150,000, such as coach Bryan Harsin at $1.65 million, are required to take the maximum 10 days.

Colorado’s first-year head coach, Karl Dorrell, who was hired in late February, is taking a 10% cut on his $3.2 million salary. Depending on their pay scale, head coaches across all varsity sports are taking either 5% or 10% cuts. 

Iowa State was on the front end of cost-cutting measures. On April 1, athletics director Jamie Pollard announced that in order to help against a $5 million shortfall, coaches and “certain” staff are taking a one-year temporary pay cut (percentage unspecified) that will reduce more than $3 million from the payroll. Suspending bonuses and incentives is expected to save another $1 million. Coach Matt Campbell, who signed a one-year extension in December, was paid $3.6 million last season.  

As part of cost-cutting measures projected to save more than $850,000, Kansas coach Les Miles, along with men’s basketball coach Bill Self and athletic director Jeff Long, is among 40 university employees taking a 10% cut. Miles’ salary is nearly $2.8 million.

Kansas State’s Chris Klieman will be taking a 13% pay cut on his $2.5 million salary effective July 1, the start of the fiscal year. According to a release issued by school president Richard B. Myers, a total of 42 athletic department employees will experience pay reductions for a savings of $1.5 million over the course of the next fiscal year. 

Scott Satterfield is among Louisville head coaches and athletic department staff, a total of 34 individuals, taking 10% cuts for projected savings of $1.75 million in fiscal 2020-21. Satterfield’s 2020 salary called for $3.25 million.

Eli Drinkwitz is among Missouri coaches who were asked to take 10% salary cuts that would go into effect between May 1 and July 31. Drinkwitz, who arrived in Columbia from Appalachian State, is in the first year of a six-year deal that pays $4 million annually. 

P.J. Fleck is among coaches, athletic department personnel and university staff at Minnesota who are taking an unpaid week. Such university-wide cooperation is expected to save the school $1 million through the end of the fiscal year, which concludes June 30. Fleck’s salary this year is $4.6 million.

Northern Illinois athletic director Sean Frazier announced he and Thomas Hammock will take 10% pay cuts for the 2020-21 fiscal year, which begins July 1. Hammock returned to his alma mater last year when he made $610,000.

Mario Cristobal is among Oregon’s head coaches who are taking 10% cuts for the 2020-21 academic year, which is projected to save the athletic department $1.1 million. Cristobal’s salary is $2.6 million.

Greg Schiano, who signed an eight-year, $32-million deal upon returning to Rutgers in December, will be taking a 10% cut. This is among many items detailed in an April 24 release from the office of university president Robert Barchi.

At Syracuse, Dino Babers is among Orange coaches who will have a 10% pay reduction for fiscal year 2021. That is according to a statement released by the university’s leadership, which also states the school has incurred more than $35 million in “unplanned and unrealized revenue.” Babers made about $2.3 million in 2019.

Clay Helton, along with men’s basketball coach Andy Enfield and athletic director Mike Bohn are reported to be shaving $1 million from their aggregate pay at USC. This report comes one month after university president Carol L. Folt took a 20% salary reduction. Last season, Helton made $3.2 million in 2019. 

Bronco Mendenhall is among 72 coaches and athletic department staff members at Virginia taking pay cuts of either 5% or 10%, depending on salary level. Last June, Mendenhall signed an amended deal through 2024 that included at least $3.85 million in 2020.

Consistent with university leaders at Wake Forest, Dave Clawson is taking a 10% pay reduction. Clawson signed an eight-year extension prior to last season when his reported salary was just under $2.2 million.

Washington State coach Nick Rolovich, who took over for Mike Leach in Pullman, is taking a 5% cut on his $3 million salary. This is in effect through the 2020-21 academic calendar year, through which there will also be a freeze on bonuses.

Western Kentucky’s Tyson Helton will also take a 10% salary cut. Last season was the first for Helton with the Hilltoppers. The younger brother of USC’s Clay Helton is in the second year of a four-year $3.2 million pact.