Ohio State Enhances Assistant Football Coaches' Pay to Over $9 Mln

The documents of contracts that The Columbus Dispatch got through an open records request revealed that nine returning associate football coaches at Ohio State earned pay raises.

Ohio State has given pay raises to its assistant football coaches, bringing the combined salaries of the 10-man, on-field staff to more than $9 million for the first time: https://t.co/YilCmxIZdq
— Joey Kaufman (@joeyrkaufman) March 16, 2023

The Buckeyes’ rapidly rising wide receivers coach, Brian Hartline, who was appointed offensive coordinator in January to take over for Kevin Wilson, when the latter left to become the head coach at Tulsa, received the most significant compensation raise.

With the addition of the passing game coordinator to his job in 2022, Hartline’s basic pay increased from $950,000 to $1.6 million, a 68.4% increase.

Wilson’s basic pay with the team in his previous two seasons was $1.4 million; thus, this is more money than he received in those two seasons.

Five assistants make seven-figure base wages, with defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and defensive line coach Larry Johnson earning the highest base salaries at $1.96 million and $1.17 million, respectively. Both received a 3% pay hike.

The full table of salaries for Ohio State's 2020 assistant coaches. Five of the eight returning assistants from last year – Kevin Wilson, Larry Johnson, Brian Hartline, Greg Studrawa and Matt Barnes – receive new two-year contracts with six-figure raises. pic.twitter.com/XsyoAb35Pm
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) March 9, 2020

Tim Walton coaches the secondary, and offensive line coach Justin Frye will make $1 million. Walton received $700,000, while Frye, the run game coordinator, earned $800,000.

After surpassing $8 million for the first time last year, the total compensation pool for the Buckeyes’ on-field personnel has now hit $9.3 million, a programme record.

According to USA TODAY Sports’ annual study of assistant coach compensation, the $8.8 million in total assistant coaching salaries were the most among public institutions in the Football Bowl Subdivision last year.

The Buckeyes' assistant coach salary pool led FBS public schools last year, and by going up to $9.32 million for this year, it's positioned to continue holding that distinction. Alabama, among a handful of SEC schools behind them, is paying $9.17 million to its 10 assistants.
— Joey Kaufman (@joeyrkaufman) March 16, 2023

The combined compensation includes $400,000 for Keenan Bailey, who advanced to the position of tight ends coach after serving in various capacities on the support staff for the two prior seasons.

Parker Fleming, who oversees special teams, received six-figure pay increase from $300,000 to $500,000.

All of Ohio State’s other assistants received small 3% pay raises, with quarterbacks coach Corey Dennis receiving a raise to $412,000 and running backs coach Tony Alford received a boost to $772,500.