2 Ohio State assistants will make $1 million in 2018
Ohio State now has two assistant coaches who will make $1 million in 2018.
The university announced salary increases Wednesday for most of Urban Meyer’s coaching staff. Most notably, defensive coordinator Greg Schiano had his compensation bumped up from $700,000 in 2017 to a whopping $1.5 million in 2018. Ryan Day, the team’s co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, received a raise of $600,000 from $400,000 to $1 million.
In 2017, there were 15 assistant coaches who earned at least $1 million, three of which were in the Big Ten (all at Michigan). After both received significant NFL interest, both Schiano and Day are now in that group.
In all, Ohio State said in a release that it approved a total of $3.4 million in additional compensation for returning staff. The school also released salary information for new hires Alex Grinch (via Washington State) and Taver Johnson (via Temple).
– Greg Schiano – $700,000 in 2017 to $1,500,000 in 2018: $800,000 increase
– Ryan Day – $400,000 in 2017 to $1,000,000 in 2018: $600,000 increase
– Kevin Wilson – $650,000 in 2017 to $800,000 in 2018: $150,000 increase
– Alex Grinch – $800,000 in 2018
– Larry Johnson – $575,225 in 2017 to $750,000 in 2018; $174,775 increase
– Tony Alford – $450,000 in 2017 to $525,000 in 2018; $75,000 increase
– Bill Davis – $500,000 in 2017; $500,000 in 2018
– Greg Studrawa – $410,000 in 2017 to $500,000 in 2018; $90,000 increase
– Taver Johnson – $345,000 in 2018
– Zach Smith – $300,000 in 2017 to $340,000 in 2018; $40,000 increase
Schiano, at $700,000, was OSU’s highest-paid assistant in 2017. In fact, per USA Today’s data that goes back to 2009, the school had never paid an assistant coach more than $750,000 in annual base salary.
“The reality is we have to compensate people consistent with the expectations and their performance,” said Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith. “I am incredibly pleased with the performance of these coaches, year after year, and I’m certain Buckeye Nation is, as well.”
The school also acknowledged that a two-year contract extension (through 2022) is in the works for Meyer. Meyer made $6.43 million in 2017. He has a 73-8 record in six seasons as Buckeyes head coach.
OSU finished 12-2 in 2017, capping off the season with a Big Ten title and a win over USC in the Cotton Bowl.
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Sam Cooper is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
