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USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Phil Harrison

Ryan Day’s salary ranked among all Big Ten football head coaches

Being the head football coach at a place like Ohio State comes with a lot of criticism but also a ton of benefits. Perhaps the main one, of course, is the compensation at a place that isn’t afraid to back the BRINKS truck up to try and compete with the best of the best.

And while head coach Ryan Day’s original compensation package wasn’t among the best in college football, as he’s had success on and off the field, the dollar signs have grown to where he now is.

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One thing we look forward to on an annual basis is the head coaches salary database released by out mothership, USA TODAY. We just received it earlier this week and it’s interesting to see how coaching salaries compare not only across the country, but within the Big Ten.

Day is up there when comparing both, but for purposes of what we’re ranking here, we are going to look at his salary among his peers in the conference. How does he rank when comparing with guys like Jim Harbaugh at Michigan, James Franklin at Penn State, and Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz?

Before we get started, it must be noted that David Braun at Northwestern is not included because of the institution being a private university and not subject to disclosing the salary of its coaches. Also, Mel Tucker is still included in the list to compare against, but he is obviously no longer employed as Michigan State’s head coach.

So, that leaves us with a ranking of 13 of the 14 coaches in the Big Ten based on what has been disclosed

And. Here. We. Go.

13
No. 12 (tie) - Greg Schiano, Rutgers

Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

Inside the Numbers

Total Pay | $4,000,000
School Pay | $4,000,000
Maximum Bonus | $1,600,000
Actual Bonus | $25,000

National Ranking | 50

12
No. 12 (tie) - Ryan Walters, Purdue

USA TODAY Sports

Inside the Numbers

Total Pay | $4,000,000
School Pay | $4,000,000
Maximum Bonus | $1,020,000
Actual Bonus | N/A

National Ranking | 49

11
No. 11 - Tom Allen, Indiana

USA TODAY Sports

Inside the Numbers

Total Pay | $4,510,000
School Pay | $4,510,000
Maximum Bonus | $750,000
Actual Bonus | $0

National Ranking | 39

10
No. 9 (tie) - Mike Locksley, Maryland

USA TODAY Sports

Inside the Numbers

Total Pay | $5,500,000
School Pay | $5,500,000
Maximum Bonus | $1,525,000
Actual Bonus | $220,000

National Ranking | 34

9
No. 9 (tie) - Matt Rhule, Nebraska

Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

Inside the Numbers

Total Pay | $5,500,000
School Pay | $5,500,000
Maximum Bonus | $950,000
Actual Bonus | N/A

National Ranking | 33

8
No. 8 - P.J. Fleck, Minnesota

Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

Inside the Numbers

Total Pay | $6,000,000
School Pay | $6,000,000
Maximum Bonus | $1,550,000
Actual Bonus | $450,000

National Ranking | 26

7
No. 7 - Bret Bielema, Illinois

Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Inside the Numbers

Total Pay | $6,500,000
School Pay | $6,500,000
Maximum Bonus | $1,600,000
Actual Bonus | $425,000

National Ranking | 21

6
No. 6 - Kirk Ferentz, Iowa

Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Inside the Numbers

Total Pay | $7,000,000
School Pay | $7,000,000
Maximum Bonus | $2,500,000
Actual Bonus | $200,000

National Ranking | 18

5
No. 5 - Luke Fickell, Wisconsin

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Inside the Numbers

Total Pay | $7,625,000
School Pay | $7,625,000
Maximum Bonus | $1,450,000
Actual Bonus | N/A

National Ranking | 13

4
No. 4 - Jim Harbaugh, Michigan

USA TODAY Sports

Inside the Numbers

Total Pay | $8,254,600
School Pay | $8,194,000
Maximum Bonus | $3,275,000
Actual Bonus | $2,200,000

National Ranking | 12

3
No. 3 - James Franklin, Penn State

Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Inside the Numbers

Total Pay | $8,500,000
School Pay | $8,500,000
Maximum Bonus | $1,400,000
Actual Bonus | $300,000

National Ranking | 11

2
No. 2 - Mel Tucker, Michigan State (no longer with the program)

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Inside the Numbers

Total Pay | $10,015,350
School Pay | $10,015,350
Maximum Bonus | $1,550,000
Actual Bonus | $0

National Ranking | 5

1
No. 1 - Ryan Day, Ohio State

USA TODAY Sports

Inside the Numbers

Total Pay | $10,271,250
School Pay | $10,196,250
Maximum Bonus | $800,000
Actual Bonus | $250,000

National Ranking | 4

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.

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