I’m not sure if this is a continuation of a trend that started with Auburn and Tennessee a couple of years ago, or if it’s due to some other factors, but USA Today notes that while head coaching salaries have plateaued recently, that’s not the case with assistant coaches’ compensation.
… The list of assistants earning $250,000 or more in the NCAA’s top-tier Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) is up from at least 106 a year ago to 132 this season. Fifty-one are in the SEC.
Twenty-six assistants are pulling down $400,000 or more, double the number making that much in 2009. Thirteen are in the SEC, topped by four defensive coordinators making $700,000 or better.
I tell you what – with Malzahn’s raise, Auburn is laying out some serious jack on its coaching staff these days. I’m not sure any other school in the conference matches the Tigers in that department. But you can bet if Auburn wins the MNC next month, there will be those making the argument that you can’t have one without the other. And with all that TV money rolling in, there will be ADs who listen.