Where Luke Fickell Ranks Among the Highest Paid College Football Coaches

Wisconsin Badgers head football coach Luke Fickell was paid handsomely to leave Cincinnati, come to Madison, and rebuild the Badgers program. 

Athletic Director Chris McIntosh demonstrated that the Wisconsin Badgers were willing to offer competitive, high-dollar compensation to recruit one of the nation’s most successful program builders away from the team he led to the College Football Playoffs.

This move was made in part to give Wisconsin a head start in re-shaping its football program and recruiting department from the top to the bottom for the new-look Big Ten that will now feature 18 teams. 

As head coaching responsibilities have expanded to include on-field duties, recruiting, roster management, navigating the transfer portal, and securing funding from donors to stay competitive in the NIL landscape, it’s clear that college coaches are more justified than ever in seeking substantial compensation.

Wisconsin Football Head Coach Luke Fickell Cracks Top 15 List 

Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell is shown during the second quarter of their game Saturday, November 25, 2023 at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Wisconsin beat Minnesota 28-14.

A recent analysis by 247Sports’ Grant Hughes sheds light on the salaries of the highest-paid head coaches in college football. 

Here’s a breakdown of the top 15 highest-paid coaches and where Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell falls in comparison:

1. Dabo Swinney (Clemson): $11.5 million
2. Kirby Smart (Georgia): $10.7 million
3. Steve Sarkisian (Texas): $10.3 million
4. Ryan Day (Ohio State): $10.2 million
5. Kalen DeBoer (Alabama): $10 million 
6. Lincoln Riley (USC): $10 million 
7. Mike Norvell (Florida State): $10 million
8. Brian Kelly (LSU): $9.9 million
9. Lane Kiffin (Ole Miss): $9 million
10. Eli Drinkwitz (Missouri): $9 million
11. Josh Heupel (Tennessee): $9 million
12. Mark Stoops (Kentucky): $9 million
13. James Franklin (Penn State): $8.5 million
14. Mike Gundy (Oklahoma State): $7.75 million
15. Luke Fickell (Wisconsin): $7.6 million
16. Billy Napier (Florida): $7.3 million

College football coaches are making more money than ever before.

(✍️: @GrantHughesNC)

MORE: https://t.co/5nmi0H6Ql3 pic.twitter.com/OvVwuZm8nc

— 247Sports (@247Sports) February 20, 2024

Coach Fickell has a few notable contractual figures worth mentioning.

With 80% of his seven-year, nearly $55 million contract guaranteed, Fickell should have a long leash with the Wisconsin football program despite a challenging first season.

His contract averages $7.8 million per year over the life of the current deal after Fickell earned $7.5 million in 2023.

Luke Fickell is now 71-31 in his career as a head coach, accumulating an impressive 57-18 overall record at Cincinnati, highlighted by a remarkable 13-1 season in 2021 when the Bearcats became the first Group of Five team to reach the College Football Playoff.

The hope is that Fickell can help build the Wisconsin Badgers into a program capable of competing for a spot in the playoffs during the life of his contract with the field set to expand.

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