The SEC loves telling everyone how, “It just means more” when it comes to the conference’s tough competition. Well, apparently this slogan also implies that assistant coaches in the conference just mean more.
USA Today recently released its database of assistant coaching salaries. At first glance, all you can see is SEC.
Topping the list this year is Texas A&M defensive coordinator John Chavis. He is making $1,558,000.
The Aggie assistant is one of five SEC assistants in this year’s top 10. Here are the other coaches from down south who were among the highest paid assistants.
- 3. Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin ($1,400,000)
- 4. LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda ($1,315,000)
- 6. LSU offensive coordinator Cam Cameron ($1,200,000)
- 8. Tennessee defensive coordinator Bob Shoop ($1,155,000)
- 10. Auburn defensive coordinator Kevin Steele ($1,100,000)
Outside of the SEC, assistants from Clemson, Louisville, Baylor and Notre Dame had assistants crack the top 10.
It really shouldn’t be a huge surprise that the SEC has some of the highest-paid assistants in the country. Their head coaches are some of the highest paid in the country. Plus, each member school is receiving more money than they know what to do with thanks to the money machine that is the SEC Network.
One thing that really was surprising to me was the fact that LSU still has such highly paid assistants, despite the fact Les Miles was let go. Oftentimes, it seems like college coaching staffs have to establish some continuity before the assistants start getting paid the big bucks.
It’s also interesting that so many SEC defensive coordinators are listed, but the one that is notably absent is Alabama’s DC. This is probably due to the fact Kirby Smart held the job for a number of years and has now taken over the helm at Georgia.
With LSU having the only head coaching change in the SEC, it’s likely we’ll see many of the same suspects on this list again next year. The one that could be absent is Kiffin, who has gotten interest from schools who want him to return to being the head coach instead of Nick Saban’s whipping boy.
