Most underpaid head coaches, 2026
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Which FBS head coaches are winning far more than their pay rank suggests? Pay is each coach's 2025 total pay from USA TODAY (2026 figures are not published yet). Records are 2026 games through Oct. 29, 2026.
Top 10 · All coaches · Method and sources · Caveats
Top 10: winning far above pay rank
Rank gap = win % rank minus pay rank among the 92 coaches ranked; the more negative, the more a coach is outperforming his pay. Jason Eck (New Mexico) is 6–1 (win % rank 4) on $1.15M, pay rank 58: a gap of -54.
| # | Coach | School (2026) | 2025 pay | 2026 record | Rank gap | Pay rank | Win % rank | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jason Eck | New Mexico | $1.15M | 6–1 | -54 | 58 | 4 | |
| 2 | Charles Kelly | Jacksonville State | $1.00M | 6–2 | -51 | 64 | 13 | |
| 2 | Pete Lembo | Buffalo | $790,500 | 5–3 | -51 | 80 | 29 | |
| 4 | Lance Taylor | Western Michigan | $850,000 | 5–3 | -48 | 77 | 29 | |
| 5 | Spencer Danielson | Boise State | $2.001M | 6–1 | -46 | 50 | 4 | |
| 5 | Sonny Cumbie | Louisiana Tech | $1.00M | 5–2 | -46 | 64 | 18 | |
| 5 | Dowell Loggains | App State | $1.00M | 5–2 | -46 | 64 | 18 | |
| 8 | Jeff Traylor | UTSA | $2.50M | 7–1 | -45 | 47 | 2 | |
| 9 | Rhett Lashlee | SMU | $2.471M | 6–1 | -44 | 48 | 4 | |
| 10 | Brent Brennan | Arizona | $3.40M | 6–1 | -42 | 46 | 4 |
Ties share a rank. Coaches at the bottom of the pay scale have the most room to post a large gap.
All 92 ranked coaches
92 rows · click a column to sort
| Coach | School (2026) | 2025 pay | W | L | Pay per win | Pay rank | Win % rank | Rank gap | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jason Eck | New Mexico | $1,150,000 | 6 | 1 | $191,667 | 58 | 4 | -54 | |
| Charles Kelly | Jacksonville State | $1,000,000 | 6 | 2 | $166,667 | 64 | 13 | -51 | |
| Pete Lembo | Buffalo | $790,500 | 5 | 3 | $158,100 | 80 | 29 | -51 | |
| Lance Taylor | Western Michigan | $850,000 | 5 | 3 | $170,000 | 77 | 29 | -48 | |
| Spencer Danielson | Boise State | $2,000,503 | 6 | 1 | $333,417 | 50 | 4 | -46 | |
| Sonny Cumbie | Louisiana Tech | $1,000,000 | 5 | 2 | $200,000 | 64 | 18 | -46 | |
| Dowell Loggains | App State | $1,000,000 | 5 | 2 | $200,000 | 64 | 18 | -46 | |
| Jeff Traylor | UTSA | $2,500,000 | 7 | 1 | $357,143 | 47 | 2 | -45 | |
| Rhett Lashlee | SMU | $2,470,818 | 6 | 1 | $411,803 | 48 | 4 | -44 | |
| Brent Brennan | Arizona | $3,400,000 | 6 | 1 | $566,667 | 46 | 4 | -42 | |
| Michael Desormeaux | Louisiana | $986,400 | 5 | 3 | $197,280 | 69 | 29 | -40 | |
| Dell McGee | Georgia State | $853,000 | 4 | 3 | $213,250 | 76 | 37 | -39 | |
| Major Applewhite | South Alabama | $857,000 | 4 | 3 | $214,250 | 74 | 37 | -37 | |
| Troy Calhoun | Air Force | $1,550,000 | 5 | 2 | $310,000 | 53 | 18 | -35 | |
| Zach Kittley | Florida Atlantic | $1,050,000 | 5 | 3 | $210,000 | 63 | 29 | -34 | |
| Joey McGuire | Texas Tech | $4,554,960 | 6 | 1 | $759,160 | 36 | 4 | -32 | |
| Jeff Monken | Army | $2,400,000 | 5 | 2 | $480,000 | 49 | 18 | -31 | |
| Jay Sawvel | Wyoming | $1,100,000 | 5 | 3 | $220,000 | 60 | 29 | -31 | |
| Chuck Martin | Miami (OH) | $1,111,000 | 5 | 3 | $222,200 | 59 | 29 | -30 | |
| Jamey Chadwell | Liberty | $5,936,509 | 6 | 1 | $989,418 | 33 | 4 | -29 | |
| Tony Gibson | Marshall | $1,000,000 | 4 | 3 | $250,000 | 64 | 37 | -27 | |
| Chris Creighton | Eastern Michigan | $672,500 | 4 | 5 | $168,125 | 88 | 62 | -26 | |
| Scott Satterfield | Cincinnati | $3,700,000 | 5 | 2 | $740,000 | 43 | 18 | -25 | |
| Willie Fritz | Houston | $4,500,000 | 6 | 2 | $750,000 | 37 | 13 | -24 | |
| Matt Entz | Fresno State | $1,100,000 | 4 | 3 | $275,000 | 60 | 37 | -23 | |
| Butch Jones | Arkansas State | $835,000 | 4 | 4 | $208,750 | 78 | 55 | -23 | |
| Mark Carney | Kent State | $300,000 | 3 | 5 | $100,000 | 92 | 72 | -20 | |
| Willie Simmons | Florida International | $750,000 | 3 | 4 | $250,000 | 82 | 63 | -19 | |
| Matt Drinkall | Central Michigan | $622,450 | 3 | 5 | $207,483 | 90 | 72 | -18 | |
| Marcus Freeman | Notre Dame | $7,421,201 | 6 | 1 | $1,236,867 | 21 | 4 | -17 | |
| Tony Sanchez | New Mexico State | $625,000 | 3 | 5 | $208,333 | 89 | 72 | -17 | |
| G.J. Kinne | Texas State | $1,550,000 | 4 | 3 | $387,500 | 53 | 37 | -16 | |
| Gerad Parker | Troy | $900,000 | 4 | 4 | $225,000 | 71 | 55 | -16 | |
| Rich Rodriguez | West Virginia | $3,600,000 | 5 | 3 | $720,000 | 44 | 29 | -15 | |
| Mike Uremovich | Ball State | $700,000 | 3 | 5 | $233,333 | 86 | 72 | -14 | |
| Mario Cristobal | Miami | $8,302,883 | 7 | 0 | $1,186,126 | 13 | 1 | -12 | |
| Curt Cignetti | Indiana | $8,300,000 | 7 | 1 | $1,185,714 | 14 | 2 | -12 | |
| Derek Mason | Middle Tennessee | $1,000,000 | 4 | 4 | $250,000 | 64 | 55 | -9 | |
| Dan Mullen | UNLV | $3,500,000 | 4 | 3 | $875,000 | 45 | 37 | -8 | |
| Clay Helton | Georgia Southern | $900,000 | 3 | 4 | $300,000 | 71 | 63 | -8 | |
| P.J. Fleck | Minnesota | $7,000,000 | 5 | 2 | $1,400,000 | 25 | 18 | -7 | |
| Kirk Ferentz | Iowa | $7,175,000 | 5 | 2 | $1,435,000 | 23 | 18 | -5 | |
| Scott Frost | UCF | $3,858,333 | 4 | 3 | $964,583 | 41 | 37 | -4 | |
| Jeff Lebby | Mississippi State | $4,350,000 | 4 | 3 | $1,087,500 | 40 | 37 | -3 | |
| Eddie George | Bowling Green | $700,000 | 2 | 6 | $350,000 | 86 | 84 | -2 | |
| Joe Harasymiak | Massachusetts | $1,360,000 | 4 | 4 | $340,000 | 56 | 55 | -1 | |
| Joe Moorhead | Akron | $620,000 | 1 | 7 | $620,000 | 91 | 91 | +0 | |
| Ken Niumatalolo | San José State | $1,500,000 | 4 | 4 | $375,000 | 55 | 55 | +0 | |
| Luke Fickell | Wisconsin | $7,825,000 | 5 | 2 | $1,565,000 | 17 | 18 | +1 | |
| Ryan Day | Ohio State | $12,575,000 | 6 | 1 | $2,095,833 | 2 | 4 | +2 | |
| Dave Aranda | Baylor | $4,702,570 | 4 | 3 | $1,175,642 | 35 | 37 | +2 | Fired Oct 25 |
| Jerry Mack | Kennesaw State | $750,000 | 2 | 6 | $375,000 | 82 | 84 | +2 | |
| Tyson Helton | Western Kentucky | $945,732 | 3 | 5 | $315,244 | 70 | 72 | +2 | |
| Kirby Smart | Georgia | $13,282,580 | 6 | 1 | $2,213,763 | 1 | 4 | +3 | |
| Timmy Chang | Hawai'i | $755,006 | 2 | 6 | $377,503 | 81 | 84 | +3 | |
| Jeff Choate | Nevada | $1,100,000 | 3 | 4 | $366,667 | 60 | 63 | +3 | |
| Josh Heupel | Tennessee | $9,000,000 | 6 | 2 | $1,500,000 | 9 | 13 | +4 | |
| Bryant Vincent | UL Monroe | $725,000 | 1 | 6 | $725,000 | 84 | 88 | +4 | |
| Jeff Brohm | Louisville | $5,981,057 | 4 | 3 | $1,495,264 | 32 | 37 | +5 | |
| Kalen DeBoer | Alabama | $10,250,000 | 6 | 2 | $1,708,333 | 7 | 13 | +6 | |
| Matt Rhule | Nebraska | $8,500,000 | 5 | 2 | $1,700,000 | 12 | 18 | +6 | |
| Blake Harrell | East Carolina | $1,300,000 | 3 | 4 | $433,333 | 57 | 63 | +6 | |
| Pat Narduzzi | Pittsburgh | $7,259,909 | 5 | 3 | $1,451,982 | 22 | 29 | +7 | |
| Phil Longo | Sam Houston | $725,000 | 1 | 7 | $725,000 | 84 | 91 | +7 | |
| Eli Drinkwitz | Missouri | $9,000,000 | 5 | 2 | $1,800,000 | 9 | 18 | +9 | |
| Scotty Walden | UTEP | $801,000 | 1 | 6 | $801,000 | 79 | 88 | +9 | |
| Ricky Rahne | Old Dominion | $854,887 | 2 | 6 | $427,444 | 75 | 84 | +9 | |
| Lincoln Riley | USC | $11,537,560 | 6 | 2 | $1,922,927 | 3 | 13 | +10 | |
| Steve Sarkisian | Texas | $10,800,000 | 5 | 2 | $2,160,000 | 5 | 18 | +13 | |
| Tony Elliott | Virginia | $4,406,000 | 4 | 4 | $1,101,500 | 39 | 55 | +16 | |
| Kenny Dillingham | Arizona State | $7,442,000 | 4 | 3 | $1,860,500 | 20 | 37 | +17 | |
| Tim Albin | Charlotte | $900,000 | 1 | 6 | $900,000 | 71 | 88 | +17 | |
| Brent Venables | Oklahoma | $7,552,750 | 4 | 3 | $1,888,188 | 19 | 37 | +18 | |
| Jedd Fisch | Washington | $7,575,024 | 4 | 3 | $1,893,756 | 18 | 37 | +19 | |
| Sean Lewis | San Diego State | $1,853,100 | 3 | 5 | $617,700 | 52 | 72 | +20 | |
| Shane Beamer | South Carolina | $8,150,000 | 4 | 3 | $2,037,500 | 16 | 37 | +21 | |
| Bret Bielema | Illinois | $8,200,000 | 4 | 3 | $2,050,000 | 15 | 37 | +22 | |
| Bronco Mendenhall | Utah State | $2,000,000 | 2 | 5 | $1,000,000 | 51 | 79 | +28 | |
| Bill Belichick | North Carolina | $10,100,000 | 4 | 3 | $2,525,000 | 8 | 37 | +29 | |
| Mike Norvell | Florida State | $5,650,000 | 3 | 4 | $1,883,333 | 34 | 63 | +29 | Fired Nov 1 |
| Mike Elko | Texas A&M | $7,000,000 | 4 | 4 | $1,750,000 | 25 | 55 | +30 | |
| Clark Lea | Vanderbilt | $3,711,137 | 3 | 5 | $1,237,046 | 42 | 72 | +30 | |
| Dan Lanning | Oregon | $10,400,000 | 4 | 3 | $2,600,000 | 6 | 37 | +31 | |
| Barry Odom | Purdue | $6,050,000 | 3 | 4 | $2,016,667 | 31 | 63 | +32 | |
| Dabo Swinney | Clemson | $11,447,025 | 4 | 3 | $2,861,756 | 4 | 37 | +33 | |
| Dave Doeren | NC State | $6,215,377 | 3 | 4 | $2,071,792 | 29 | 63 | +34 | Fired Oct 24 |
| Lance Leipold | Kansas | $6,650,000 | 3 | 4 | $2,216,667 | 27 | 63 | +36 | |
| Sonny Dykes | TCU | $7,036,013 | 3 | 4 | $2,345,338 | 24 | 63 | +39 | |
| Brent Key | Georgia Tech | $4,500,000 | 2 | 5 | $2,250,000 | 37 | 79 | +42 | |
| Mike Locksley | Maryland | $6,100,000 | 2 | 5 | $3,050,000 | 30 | 79 | +49 | Fired Oct 21 |
| Greg Schiano | Rutgers | $6,500,000 | 2 | 5 | $3,250,000 | 28 | 79 | +51 | |
| Deion Sanders | Colorado | $8,975,000 | 2 | 5 | $4,487,500 | 11 | 79 | +68 |
Method and sources
- Pay: total pay for the 2025 season from the USA TODAY Sports coach salary database. USA TODAY's 2026 figures were not yet published. Coaches at schools that don't disclose pay are not included.
- Records: 2026 wins and losses through games of Oct. 29, 2026, from ESPN standings, checked against CBS Sports standings.
- Ranks: pay rank and win % rank are among the 92 ranked coaches; tied values share a rank. Rank gap = win % rank − pay rank.
- Not ranked: 14 coaches who changed schools after 2025, because their 2025 pay was earned at a different school: Kyle Whittingham (Michigan; 2025 pay at Utah), Matt Campbell (Penn State; 2025 pay at Iowa State), Lane Kiffin (LSU; 2025 pay at Ole Miss), James Franklin (Virginia Tech; 2025 pay at Penn State), Billy Napier (James Madison; 2025 pay at Florida), Ryan Silverfield (Arkansas; 2025 pay at Memphis), Jim Mora (Colorado State; 2025 pay at Connecticut), Alex Golesh (Auburn; 2025 pay at South Florida), Jimmy Rogers (Iowa State; 2025 pay at Washington State), Jason Candle (UConn; 2025 pay at Toledo), Eric Morris (Oklahoma State; 2025 pay at North Texas), Ryan Beard (Coastal Carolina; 2025 pay at Missouri State), Charles Huff (Memphis; 2025 pay at Southern Miss), Bob Chesney (UCLA; 2025 pay at James Madison).
- Fired during the season: Mike Locksley (Maryland, Oct. 21), Dave Doeren (NC State, Oct. 24) and Dave Aranda (Baylor, Oct. 25) are shown with their records at the time of the cutoff.
Caveats
- Half a season is a small sample: one game moves a coach several places.
- These are simple measures. They don't account for schedule strength, roster budgets or the program a coach inherited.
- Spot an error? Email [email protected].
Related: Most overpaid head coaches, 2026 · Coach pay vs. wins (career) · Coach pay & buyouts · Most expensive rosters, 2026