Here’s How Much These College Football Coaches Make A Year

Who would've thought that college football coaches are some of the best-paid coaches in the country? Some even make more than other coaches of the same caliber at the same college.

Some of these coaches even make as much as NFL coaches. But with incredible winning track records like theirs, you can't say they didn't earn it. We'll let you decide if the rest of the coaches on this list have earned their high salaries, too.

Chad Morris - $3.5 Million In His Final Season

GettyImages-1188487592
Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

Chad Morris might not be on this list for very much longer. Making $3.5 million as the head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks should come with wins.

After a disappointing tenure with Arkansas that saw Morris get fired, he returned to his roots, taking a job as a high school football coach.

ADVERTISEMENT

Kyle Whittingham - $4.1 Million

ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-1362295835
Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Kyle Whittingham has been the head coach at Utah for a long time. He replaced Urban Meyer in 2004 and has refused to let go since. In 15 seasons, Whittingham has only suffered through two losing seasons.

ADVERTISEMENT

Utah's best season with Whittingham was 2008, when the team went a perfect 13-0. They finished the season ranked second in the nation on the AP poll and won the Sugar Bowl. Overall, he has gone 120-61, including 9-5 in 2018.

ADVERTISEMENT

Ed Orgeron - $8.7 Million In His Final Season

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-1199333351
Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

For Ed Orgeron, LSU is his third stop as a head coach. He was given his first shot in 2005 with Ole Miss. In three unceremonious years there, he went 10-25. In 2013, he became the interim head coach at USC, going 6-2.

ADVERTISEMENT

Despite the fan base wanting Orgeron to come back to USC, the school went in a different direction, opening the door for LSU. In 2016, they made it official, and have never looked back. Coach O led LSU to a National Championship title in 2019. The next two seasons saw major regression, leading LSU to buy out Orgeron's contract.

ADVERTISEMENT

Pat Fitzgerald - $5.2 Million

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-1344785220
Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images
Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Pat Fitzgerald's tenure with the Northwestern Wildcats began in 2006. He led the team to a less than stellar 4-8 record, which he followed up with a 6-6 record. His third year in 2008 was his breakout.

ADVERTISEMENT

The school finished a 9-4 record and earned a birth in the Alamo Bowl. Since then, he has won ten games twice and has an overall record of 96-70. In 2019, he finished with a 9-5 record and a win in the Holiday Bowl.

ADVERTISEMENT

James Franklin - $6.7 Million

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-1196401432
Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images
Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

James Franklin had a tough task ahead of him when he signed his contract with Penn State. The school was still reeling from the Joe Paterno scandal and needed a strong personality to replace Bill O'Brien, who left the program to coach the Houston Texans.

ADVERTISEMENT

After taking, Franklin turned the school into an NCAA powerhouse. Every year under Franklin, Penn State has been seen as a National Championship contender. Give him enough time, and he'll bring the trophy to Pennsylvania.

ADVERTISEMENT

Lincoln Riley - $6.2 Million In His Final Season

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-1240188026
Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images
Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Lincoln Riley took over as the head coach at the University of Oklahoma in 2017 after Bob Stoops retired. In his first two seasons, Riley won 24 games and only lost four. It's one of the best starts to a coaching career in history.

ADVERTISEMENT

It didn't hurt that in his first season Riley had Baker Mayfield as his quarterback. Then, when Mayfield left for the NFL, Kyler Murray took his spot under center. At the end of the 2021 season, Riley announced he was leaving Oklahoma to become the head coach at USC.

ADVERTISEMENT

Jim Harbaugh - $6.3 Million

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
jim harbaugh michigan coaching salary
Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Head Coach Jim Harbaugh is actually getting paid more by Michigan than he ever did in the NFL. He made $5 million a year as the head coach of the 49ers. When he and the team agreed to "mutually part ways," his alma mater made him an offer he couldn't refuse.

ADVERTISEMENT

The signing of Harbaugh in 2015 came with high expectations. He was supposed to rejuvenate the once-proud program. He has mostly come through, although the Wolverines are still waiting to get into the college football playoff.

ADVERTISEMENT

Kirby Smart - $7.13 Million

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
kirby smart georgia coach salary
Joe Robbins/Getty Images
Joe Robbins/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Kirby Smart has had a tremendous run as the head coach for the University of Georgia. In three years he has gone 32-10, and led the team to the brink of National Championship twice. The team actually faced off against Alabama in the final game, losing a heartbreaker in overtime.

ADVERTISEMENT

Before taking over at Georgia, Smart worked under Saban at Alabama as the school's defensive coordinator. Oddly enough, it's been his offenses that have stood out in Georgia.

ADVERTISEMENT

Dabo Swinney - $8.3 Million

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
dabo swinny clemson coach salary
Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Dabo Swinney might be underpaid at Clemson. IHis Tigers tore Nick Saban's Crimson Tide apart in the National Championship. Before the loss, Alabama was undefeated. Unfortunately for them, so was Clemson, the only team could stand un-scarred at the end of the game.

ADVERTISEMENT

Before becoming the head coach of Clemson in 2009, Swinney was an assistant on Tommy Bowden's staff. Bowden was fired after a 3-3 start to the 2008 season and the school named Swinney the interim head coach. Swinney never looked back.

ADVERTISEMENT

Dan Mullen - $6 Million In Final Season

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
dan mullen florida gators head coach salary
Joe Robbins/Getty Images
Joe Robbins/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

In his first season as the Florida Gators coach in 2018, Dan Mullen went 10-3. The high-paying contract he signed the year prior has paid dividends early and might surprise people who followed his unspectacular nine-year career at Mississippi State.

ADVERTISEMENT

In those nine seasons, Mullen went 69-46. He dominated outside of his conference, but fell short against them, going 33-39. After a precarious start to the 2021 season, Mullen was fired and replaced by Billy Napier, who signed a seven-year contract worth $52 million.

ADVERTISEMENT

Tom Herman - $5.5 Million In Final Season

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
tom herman texas head coach salary
Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Tom Herman was handed a high priced contract in 2016 from the University of Texas after resuscitating Houston's football program. In 2015 with Houston, Herman led the team to a 13-1 record.

ADVERTISEMENT

They ended the year as the eighth-ranked team in the nation. It was the first time since 1979 that Houston achieved a top ten ranking. He was praised for returning the school to glory. In two years, he went 22-4 with the Cougars and was undefeated on his home turf. If Texas didn't steal him away, another school would have. The school let Herman go in 2021.

ADVERTISEMENT

Nick Saban - $10 Million

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
nick saban
Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Before we talk about everyone else, let's look at how Saban earned his massive payday with Alabama. Since taking over the program in 2007, Saban has won five National Championships. His overall record at the school is a mind boggling 141-21!

ADVERTISEMENT

Since 2011, no Crimson Tide team Saban has coached has lost more than two games. All he does is win, and he's doing it at one of the most prestigious schools in the nation. The school is so in love with Saban, that on top of his salary, they also found a way to pay off his $3 million mortgage in 2014.

ADVERTISEMENT

Scott Frost - $4 Million

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
scott frost nebraska head coach salary
Steven Branscombe/Getty Images
Steven Branscombe/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Like Tom Herman, Scott Frost was always going to be pulled away from one college football program to another. From 2016 to 2017, Frost was the head coach of the University of Central Florida. He coached the team to a perfect 13-0 in 2017 and got the attention of Nebraska.

ADVERTISEMENT

His first season at Nebraska was a letdown. When a school pays a coach $5 million, they expect him to win right away. Frost went 4-8, going 3-6 in conference play. With his track record for success, the upcoming season should flip the narrative.

ADVERTISEMENT

Mike Gundy - $5 Million

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
mike gundy oklahoma head coach salary
Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Mike Gundy was handed the head coach job at Oklahoma State when Les Miles left for another job in 2004. Gundy was Miles offensive coordinator and the decision to make him Miles successor was easy. In 14 seasons, he's only had one losing season.

ADVERTISEMENT

If there is one thing that has eluded Gundy during his tenure, it's that he has never won a National Championship. He has won the Big 12 Championship once but has never been able to hold the College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy over his head.

ADVERTISEMENT

Willie Taggart - $750,000

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
willie taggart florida state head coach salary
Joe Robbins/Getty Images
Joe Robbins/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

For Willie Taggart, the fourth try was the charm. He got his first head coaching job in 2010 with Western Kentucky. Three years later he moved onto South Florida. He stayed there for four years before taking over at Oregon.

ADVERTISEMENT

Finally, in 2018, Florida State offered Taggart $5 million a year to be their head coach. He went 5-7 his first season working to rebuild the program. After a disappointing second season, FSU fired Taggart, who found a new job quickly, and for a lot less money, with Florida Atlantic University.

ADVERTISEMENT

Lovie Smith - $4 Million In His Final Season

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
lovie smith illinois head coach salary
Corey Perrine/Getty Images
Corey Perrine/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Lovie Smith accomplished just about everything he could in the NFL as the head coach of the Chicago Bears for a decade. After two years with the Buccaneers, Smith decided to go back to college ball and took the head coaching job at the University of Illinois.

ADVERTISEMENT

His first three seasons in Illinois were not good. He led the team to a 9-27 overall record. The 2018 season was his most successful campaign, and the team went 4-8. If he wants to stick around, he will need to start winning as he did in the NFL. Illinois bought out the remainder of Smith's contract in 2020.

ADVERTISEMENT

Gary Patterson - $6 Million

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
gary patterson tcu head coach salary
Tom Pennington/Getty Images
Tom Pennington/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Gary Patterson has been a constant at Texas Christian University (TCU) since 2000. His run there has led to a 167-63 record. The only thing he's missing is a National Championship ring. Patterson has won five conference titles, though, so no one at the school is complaining.

ADVERTISEMENT

Through his long career with TCU, Patterson has seen the school play in four different conferences. When he started, they belonged to the Western Athletic Conference. One year later they moved to Conference USA. In 2005, they moved to the Mountain West Conference. Seven years later the school settled into the Big 12 Conference.

ADVERTISEMENT

Jimbo Fisher - $9 Million

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
jimbo fisher texas a&m coach salary
Joe Robbins/Getty Images
Joe Robbins/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

When Jimbo Fisher made the decision to leave Florida State for Texas A&M, it was all about the Benjamins. His new school inked him to a massive 10-year, $75 million contract. While he didn't prove much his first year at the helm, he has plenty of time to get it right.

ADVERTISEMENT

Of course, the school is confident in their investment. With Florida, Fisher only had one losing season. In 2013, the school went a perfect 14-0 and won the National Championship. Can lightning strike twice in College Station?

ADVERTISEMENT

Chip Kelly - $5.6 Million

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
chip kelly
Keith Birmingham/Digital First Media/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images
Keith Birmingham/Digital First Media/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Chip Kelly might have the most interesting head coaching career of anyone on this list. In 2009 he took over the program at Oregon and was an instant success. Using advanced conditioning and fast paced play, Kelly wet 46-7 with the Ducks.

ADVERTISEMENT

With so much quick success, the NFL took notice. The Philadelphia Eagles hired Kelly, where he lasted for three seasons. He spent one more year in the NFL with the 49ers before going back to college. In 2018, Kelly was hired by UCLA and went 3-9 in his first year.

ADVERTISEMENT

Kirk Ferentz - $5.57 Million

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
kirk ferentz iowa head coach salary
Michael Hickey/Getty Images
Michael Hickey/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

One of the longest-tenured head coaches in college football history, Kirk Ferentz has watched over the Iowa Hawkeyes since 1998. His first two seasons were disasters, but the tide turned in his third year. The team posted a winning record and won the Alamo Bowl.

ADVERTISEMENT

Ferentz is such an institution in Iowa it's surprising he's not higher on this list. He could easily be making more money at another school. After signing a ten-year extension in 2016, however, it's clear there's no place Ferentz would rather be.

ADVERTISEMENT

Ryan Day - $6 Million

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ryan day ohio state head coach salary
Jeff Gross/Getty Images
Jeff Gross/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Ryan Day has big shoes to fill in Ohio. Announced as Urban Meyer's replacement, Day will attempt to make the transition from highly regarded offensive coordinator to highly respected head coach. If anyone can do it, it's Day.

ADVERTISEMENT

Meyer retired from coaching at the end of the 2018 season citing health concerns. It was the second time in his head coaching career he left a program to take care of his health. His salary was going to be $8 million, so handing over the reins to Ryan Day actually saves the school money.

ADVERTISEMENT

Mark Dantonio - $100,000 Annually In Retirement

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
mark dantonio michigan state head coach salary
Steven Branscombe/Getty Images
Steven Branscombe/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Another college football staple, Mark Dantonio has run the show at Michigan State since 2007. With an overall record 107-51, it's unlikely he'll be going anywhere for a while either. The only bad mark on Dantonio's resume is his 2016 season, where the school went 3-9.

ADVERTISEMENT

In 2017, the school bounced back in a big way, going 10-3 and winning the Holiday Bowl. Dantonio's best season by far was 2013, when the school went 13-1, won the Rose Bowl, and ended the year as the third-ranked team in college. In February 2020, Dantonio announced he was retiring - a move that earns him an annual salary from MSU of $100,000 a year.

ADVERTISEMENT

Chris Petersen - $4.4 Million In His Final Season

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
chris petersen washington head coach salary
Cody Glenn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Cody Glenn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Chris Peterson has never had a losing season as a head coach. In eight seasons with Boise State, Petersen went 92-12. The school finished a perfect 14-0 in 2009. In 2014, Washington managed to entice Peterson away from Boise.

ADVERTISEMENT

The 2016 season was the reason the University Washington coveted Petersen. The school went 12-2 and was ranked as the fourth-best team in the nation. After the 2019 season, Petersen resigned from his post.

ADVERTISEMENT

David Shaw - $4.3 Million

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
david shaw stanford head coach salary
Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

When Jim Harbaugh bolted Stanford to become the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, David Shaw took over. In the years since, he has arguably been better than the man he took over for, although he earns quite a bit less.

ADVERTISEMENT

In his first eight seasons, Shaw went 82-26. He has won the Rose Bowl twice and never posted a losing campaign. Once considered a school that high school recruits actively tried avoid, Shaw has helped turn the Palo Alto university into a hot ticket program.

ADVERTISEMENT

Will Muschamp - $4.2 Million In His Final Season

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
will muschamp
Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Will Muschamp is the head coach at South Carolina and is making a cool $4.2 million in 2019. He started his coaching career with Auburn in 1995, and took his most high profile job as the head coach of Florida in 2011.

ADVERTISEMENT

Muschamp's coaching career tenure at Florida was underwhelming to say the least. He went 28-21, only winning more than ten games once. With South Carolina he hasn't been much beter, despite the hefty contract. He has gone 22-17 in three years. The school cut ties with the coach in 2020.

ADVERTISEMENT

Mark Stoops - $5.25 Million

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
mark stoops
Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Andy Lyons/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Mark Stoops has been the head football coach at the University of Kentucky since 2013. His first season there the team went 2-10. He followed that up with two straight 5-7 campaigns before finally posting a winning record in 2016.

ADVERTISEMENT

In 2018, Stoops' team broke out big time with a 10-3 record. They were given a birth in the Citrus Bowl, winning easily. Most importantly, they finished as the 12th ranked team in a nation, a huge accomplishment for the coach that just keeps getting better.

ADVERTISEMENT

Justin Fuente - $4 Million In His Final Season

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
justin fuente
Michael Shroyer/Getty Images
Michael Shroyer/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Justin Fuente has been the head coach at two universities. Memphis gave him his first shot in 2012, and it didn't go well. Fuente went 4-8 and was barely brought back for a second season.

ADVERTISEMENT

Season two in Memphis was worse, seeing Fuente finish with a 3-9 record. He bounced back the next two years, going a combined 19-6. In 2016, Virginia Tech was more than happy to swoop Fuente up. After the 2021 season, the school cut ties with Fuente, buying out the remainder of his contract.

ADVERTISEMENT

Jeremy Pruitt - $3.8 Million

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
jeremy pruitt
Frederick Breedon/Getty Images
Frederick Breedon/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Jeremy Pruitt served his first year as the head coach of the University of Tennessee in 2018. He replaced former head coach Butch Jones, and led the team to a mediocre 5-7 record.

ADVERTISEMENT

Pruitt's path to becoming a head coach was a long one, beginning with Alabama in 1997. From there her moved back and forth between college and high school, finally breaking through with Alabama again in 2007. One decade later he was finally given his chance at the big show, and only time will tell how he will do.

ADVERTISEMENT

Jeff Brohm - $6.6 Million

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
jeff brohm
Michael Hickey/Getty Images
Michael Hickey/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Unlike several other coaches on this list, Jeff Brohm didn't get his start in coaching as a college position coach. He was actually given his first head coaching job in 2002 for the Louisville Fire of the Arena Football League.

ADVERTISEMENT

Thirteen years after his one season in the AFL, Brohm became the head coach of Western Kentucky. He went 30-10 in three years, and was an easy choice for Purdue when they had a head coach opening in 2017. In two season he has gone 13-13 and his seat is starting to feel hot.

ADVERTISEMENT

Paul Chryst - $5.25 Million

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
paul chryst
Sarah Stier/Getty Images
Sarah Stier/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Paul Chryst is currently working as a head coach at his second university with Wisconsin. He first began in 2012 at Pittsburgh, where he went 19-19 in three years For whatever reason, Wisconsin decided that was good enough for them.

ADVERTISEMENT

So far, it's safe to say Wisconsin was right. In his first year he went 10-3 and has ever lost more than five games. Never finishing a season with a losing record, Christ has gone 42-12 overall for Wisconsin. So far.

ADVERTISEMENT

Dana Holgorsen - $3.6 Million

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
dana holgorsen
Joe Robbins/Getty Images
Joe Robbins/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

It won't be long until Dana Holgorsen climbs up this list. In his last year as the head coach at West Virginia, Holgorsen made $3.6 million. After the new year turned, Holgorsen left the school to take the head coaching job at the University of Houston.

ADVERTISEMENT

Holgorsen signed a five-year contract with the university for $20 million. You can assume that means he will be getting $4 million a year, but contracts don't always work that way, so until we know the specifics, Holgorsen will stay right here.

ADVERTISEMENT

Bronco Mendenhall - $3.55 Million In His Final Season

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
bronco mendenhall
Grant Halverson/Getty Images
Grant Halverson/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

In 14 seasons as head coach in college football, Bronco Mendenhall has a 115-65 overall record. From 2005 until 2015, he led the BYU Broncos, going 99-43 and being nationally ranked five times.

ADVERTISEMENT

In 2016, Mendenhall became the head coach for the Virginia Cavaliers. His first season was a disaster. The school went 2-10. The next year they went 6-7 before finally posting a winning record in 2018. The 8-5 record officially took him off the hot seat. Mendenhall announced at the end of the 2021 season he was stepping down to focus on his family.

ADVERTISEMENT

P.J. Fleck - $4.65 Million

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
pj fleck
Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

For the last two seasons, P.J. Fleck has been the head coach for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. His first season he finished an unglamorous 5-7. The team bounced back in 2018, finishing 7-6.

ADVERTISEMENT

Before taking his talents to Minnesota, Fleck was the head coach at Western Michigan. After going 1-11 in his first season, Fleck was lucky to get a second chance. In 2014, Western Michigan went 8-5, then 13-1 in his final year there, losing their only game in the Cotton Bowl.

ADVERTISEMENT

Matt Campbell - $3.5 Million

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
matt campbell
Matthew Holst/Getty Images
Matthew Holst/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

From 2011 until 2015, Matt Campbell was the head coach at Toledo. In his time there, the Rockets went 35-15. He never coached a losing season there, and finished his final season with a 9-2 record.

ADVERTISEMENT

In 2016, a bigger program at Iowa State came calling, and Campbell happily answered the call. In his first season, Campbell went 3-9. The next two years he went 8-5. As he continues, Iowa state will look for more success, from either national ranking or major bowl game.

ADVERTISEMENT

Mike Leach - $5 Million

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
mike leach
Harry How/Getty Images
Harry How/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Mike Leach has been a head coach for a long time. He was hired in 2000 by Texas Tech. He spent ten years there, going 84-43 before being fired for controversial discipline techniques.

ADVERTISEMENT

In 2012, Washington State took a chance on the embattled coach. The school wanted to become a powerhouse in their conference. After three straight losing seasons, the Cougars broke through in 2015, finishing the year 9-4. In 2020, Leach became the head coach at Mississippi State

ADVERTISEMENT

Pat Narduzzi - $4 Million

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
pat narduzzi
Jorge Salgado/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Jorge Salgado/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Pat Narduzzi took the job as the head coach at Pittsburgh in 2015. His first season was a huge success. He went 8-5 and earned a birth in the Military Bowl. The next season saw continued success, with a birth in the Pinstripe Bowl.

ADVERTISEMENT

Since then, Narduzzi's luck has run out a bit. After two straight bowl bids, Pittsburgh went 5-7. This last season the school went 7-7, losing the Sun Bowl. In his four years, Narduzzi has earned three bowl berths, losing each match.

ADVERTISEMENT

Dave Doeren - $3 Million

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
dave doeren
Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Michael Reaves/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

In six seasons with the NC State Wolfpack, Dave Doeren has gong 43-34. He has only posted a losing season once, his first. Then again, he has never won more than ten games in a season at his current school.

ADVERTISEMENT

Before coming to NC State, Doeren was the head coach at Northern Illinois. In two seasons there he went a spectacular 32-4, even finishing the 2012 season with national ranking of 22. He has never ended a season with a higher rank.

ADVERTISEMENT

Matt Luke - $3 Million In His Final Season

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
matt luke
Frederick Breedon/Getty Images
Frederick Breedon/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Matt Luke has only ever been a head coach at Ole Miss. He was hired in 2017 and went 6-6 in his first season. In 2018, he went 5-7, but failed to make an impact in his conference, going 1-7.

ADVERTISEMENT

Before being hired by Ole Miss, Luke worked as an assistant coach for several programs. In 2017, when Ole Miss fired their head coach mid-season, Luke took over. After the 2019 season, the school bought out the remainder of his contract.

ADVERTISEMENT

Derek Mason - $2.8 Million In His Final Season

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
derek mason
Frederick Breedon/Getty Images
Frederick Breedon/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Derek Mason has been the head coach at Vanderbilt University since 2014. In that time, he has never posted a winning record and has not yet been fired either. His best finish was in 2018 when he led the school to a 6-7 record.

ADVERTISEMENT

Mason began his coaching career in 1994 at Mesa Community College working with the wide receivers. One decade late, Ohio hired him in the same position. In 2010, Mason was hired by Stanford, continuing to buffer his resume before finally being given his current shot with Vanderbilt. After a horrible start to the 2020 season, the school fired Mason.