Nick Saban is the Highest Paid Coach in College Football

With big contract extensions and salary increases throughout college football, the Alabama head coach received his new compensation details alongside athletics director Greg Byrne, gymnastics coach Ashley Johnston and Antoine Pettway.

The "rich become richer" is a phrase often used when Alabama football brings in another top recruit or wins another championship, but it would also be an accurate way to describe what happened when the University of Alabama Board of Trustees compensation committee met Tuesday. 

Alabama head football coach Nick Saban's contract was extended one year though 2030 with a base salary of $305,000 a year with a $9,595,000 talent fee in 2022 that will increase annually by $400,000 to $12,395,000 in 2030. The committee unanimously approved Saban's contract. 

"Our family is very happy to agree to a contract extension with The University of Alabama,” Saban said in a press release. "Terry and I are very appreciative of the unmatched commitment the University has shown to this football program and our family over the last 15-plus years. This is our home, and we look forward to finishing our career at Alabama."

This means Saban will once again be the highest paid coach in college football. With the base salary, talent fee, plus an $800,000 completion benefit, Saban will make $10.7 million this season. The completion benefit runs through 2025. 

There are also bonuses in his contract for things like winning the SEC championship, College Football Playoff appearances, national coach of the year awards and academic accomplishments that can boost his compensation.

Saban received a new contract last August that extended him through the 2028 season where he would be set to make $11.5 million that season between base salary, talent fee and completion benefits. However, the Alabama head coach has a stipulation in his contract that requires his total compensation to be among the average of the three highest-paid SEC coaches or five highest-paid coaches in college football. 

With Kirby Smart at Georgia and Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M both bringing in massive contracts in the SEC, Ryan Day at Ohio State and Mel Tucker at Michigan State set to make over $9 million annually, plus the big hires of Lincoln Riley at USC and Brian Kelly at LSU, it was once again time to boost Saban's salary. After delivering Georgia to its first national championship in more than four decades, Smart became the highest paid coach in college football this offseason with a 10-year, $112.5 million contract. 

Saban is less than two weeks away from beginning his 16th season as the Alabama head coach and has won six national championship and eight SEC titles over that span.

"We are incredibly fortunate to have the best football coach in the nation and one of the greatest coaches of all time, regardless of sport, here at Alabama in Coach Saban,” said Alabama Director of Athletics Greg Byrne. “Not only have his teams been successful on the field, but they have also achieved greatly in the classroom and community. Beyond that, the impact he and Ms. Terry have had on The University, Tuscaloosa and the state of Alabama cannot be overlooked. They are special people, and we are very thankful to have them around for many years to come."

Along with Saban, the committee approved new contracts for Byrne, new gymnastics head coach Ashley Johnston and longtime assistant basketball coach Antoine Pettway.

Byrne received a three-year extension through 2029 with a five percent salary adjustment. It was unanimously approved by the committee. He will make $1.49 million this year, and his salary will increase to $1.91 million in 2030. 

Replacing Dana Duckworth as head coach, Johnston's initial contract is for five years at $175,000 annual base salary, plus an annual $10,000 talent fee. And Pettway's contract was extended through 2024 with an annual salary of $410,000.