USA Today: 17 FBS football coaches will earn more than $3 million this year

Nick Saban is the highest-paid college football coach (USA Today Sports)

USA Today released a really cool database of the salaries of college football coaches Wednesday which revealed that 17 FBS coaches will make at least $3 million in 2013.

Not surprisingly, Alabama’s Nick Saban topped the list at a total 2013 salary of $5,545,852, with Texas’ Mack Brown right behind Saban at $5,453,750.

What is a surprise though, is the 2013 salary of Bret Bielema, head coach of the 3-6 Arkansas Razorbacks, who are 0-5 in SEC play and may very well go winless in conference play in Bielema’s first season at the helm.

Bielema is pocketing an eye-opening $5,158,863 this year, but that is just a one-year thing, as $1.9 million is related to Bielema’s buyout from his Wisconsin contract.

Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz is the ninth highest-paid coach at $3,985,000 this year, despite his Hawkeyes seeming to be perpetually stuck in mediocrity over most of the past decade.

Despite only winning three games at Kansas since taking over, Charlie Weis is earning $2,503,727 this season, the 31^st most in the country.

Oregon’s Marc Helfrich has his Ducks undefeated and ranked third in the BCS rankings, yet his salary is 56^th highest at $1,800,000.

And while I’m sure that Brian Kelly, Weis’ successor at Notre Dame, makes more than what is reported here ($1,088,179), it is still surprising to see him so far down on the list at number 70.

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