The Tennessee Volunteers’ blockbuster 2022 college football season paid off big time for head coach Josh Heupel.
What’s happening: Heupel’s pay reached $9 million in 2023, according to the latest data from USA Today. That makes him the ninth-highest paid college football coach in the nation (tied with Lane Kiffin in Mississippi).
- He secured the new rate as part of a contract extension in January.
- Last year, Heupel made $5 million, according to the database.
Why it matters: The rankings show the financial might of SEC football. As Adam Sparks at the Knoxville News Sentinel notes, seven of the top 10 coaches come from the SEC.
- It also reflects Tennessee’s strong 11-2 season, which included an unforgettable win over Alabama.
Zoom out: The top three earners this season are Alabama’s Nick Saban ($11.4 million), Clemson’s Dabo Swinney ($10.9 million) and Georgia’s Kirby Smart ($10.7 million).
Yes, but: Other Tennessee teams fell much lower in the rankings.
- Vanderbilt’s head coach Clark Lea came in at 56 with $3 million.
- Middle Tennessee State University’s Rick Stockstill was 90th with $910,504 in total pay.
