Rod Carey Made Highest-Paid Coordinator in Indiana Football History

After firing Walt Bell, Indiana football coach Tom Allen chose to promote Rod Carey to the role of offensive coordinator, without an interim tag. On Friday, details surrounding Carey's contract were reported by the IndyStar, and revealed that Carey is going to be paid more money annually than any Indiana football assistant coach ever has before.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana football coach Tom Allen really believes in Rod Carey.

At least, that's what appears to be case after Allen made Carey the highest-paid coordinator in program history, according to Zach Osterman of IndyStar, who first reported the news on Friday. 

According to Osterman, Carey will receive $815,000 per year on a contract that runs from Oct. 2, 2023 through Dec. 31, 2025. This all comes after Allen fired the team's previous offensive coordinator Walt Bell on Sunday following Indiana's 44-17 loss against Maryland. Bell was making $700,000 per year on his contract. 

Kalen DeBoer was previously the highest-paid coordinator in Indiana football history, making $800,000 during his lone year in Bloomington in 2019. DeBoer is currently the head coach of the Washington Huskies, who are 5-0, ranked No. 7 in the AP Top 25 poll and quarterback by former IU football star Michael Penix Jr. 

The deal will pay Carey $400,000 annually in base salary, and $415,000 in what IU contracts term outside, marketing and promotional income, according to memorandum of understanding obtained by Osterman and the Indy Star.

Carey served as a quality control coach for the Hoosiers prior to his promotion, and in 2022, he served as the interim offensive line coach after Allen fired Darren Hiller midseason. 

Notably, Carey was not given an interim tag when appointed to his new role of offensive coordinator on Sunday. Allen not only chose to go with a permanent in-house promotion to find his new offensive coordinator, but decided to commit more money to him than Indiana ever has at that job. 

Carey played football at Indiana from 1990-93 under coach Bill Mallory. Since then, he's had an extensive coaching career, previously serving as the head coach at Northern Illinois from 2013-18, and at Temple from 2019-21. 

Related Stories on Indiana Football:

• ROD CAREY'S PLAN FOR INDIANA OFFENSE: Indiana football offensive coordinator Rod Carey spoke to media on Wednesday for the first time since being promoted to the role following the dismissal of Walt Bell. Carey stressed that he won't change the Hoosiers' whole system, as that's too hard to do midseason. However, he wants to focus the offense on running what the players do best. CLICK HERE
• HOOSIER ROUNDTABLE PODCAST: HoosiersNow.com reporters Daniel Olinger and Jack Ankony talk about the firing of Indiana football offensive coordinator Walt Bell, the subsequent promotion of Rod Carey to the same role and what it all means for coach Tom Allen and the 2023 Indiana Hoosiers. CLICK HERE