10:25AM EST December 5. 2012 - The cost of a football victory keeps climbing for Kansas.
This season, the university paid Charlie Weis $2.5 million for one win — the highest cost per victory among schools whose teams won at least one game, according to USA TODAY Sports' annual analysis of football coaches' compensation. Kansas paid Turner Gill $1.05 million for each of two wins last season, after paying Gill $700,000 for each of three wins in 2010.
Orange Bowl-bound Northern Illinois, meanwhile, gave coach Dave Doeren a raise this season and ended up lowering its cost per victory. Doeren delivered 12 wins, including one in the Mid-American Conference title game, at $35,000 apiece before leaving for North Carolina State. His 10 wins last season, also including the MAC title game, cost $37,100 each. Those figures made NIU No. 3 in cost efficiency in both seasons.
COSTLY WINS: Coaches with highest cost per win
Kent State's Darell Hazell was the most cost-effective coach this season, with 11 wins at a little more than $27,000 apiece. Louisiana-Monroe's Todd Berry was next, with eight at $31,250 apiece.
Among the conferences whose champions automatically qualify for the Bowl Championship Series, the most cost-effective coach was Rutgers' Kyle Flood, with nine wins at $83,333 each. No other coach in any of those conferences had a cost per victory of less than $130,000, based on the amounts paid by the schools exclusive of bowl games and performance bonuses.
Kansas is the only NCAA Bowl Subdivision school among the top five in cost inefficiency in each of the past three seasons. This season, KU paid over $1 million more per win more than the school that had the lowest rate of return last season.
In 2011, Mississippi paid nearly $1.4 million for each of the two wins from Houston Nutt, who was fired. In 2010, Texas paid just over $1 million per win from Mack Brown, who delivered five that season.
Southern Mississippi set the standard this season, paying $790,000 to Ellis Johnson, who produced an 0-12 record, was fired, and is set to receive more than $2.1 million in buyout money on a monthly basis through late December 2015.
Auburn also exceeded more than $1 million a win, paying now-fired Gene Chizik $3.5 million for three victories. Among coaches who have not been terminated, Iowa's Kirk Ferentz was second to Weis in cost per win at $958,750 for each of the Hawkeyes' four. Under the terms of a 10-year contract that began in 2010, Ferentz is scheduled to receive $150,000 in pay increases for next season.
In addition to Southern Mississippi, 11 schools paid more than $600,000 per victory this season, including eight that paid at least $725,000. Last season, six schools paid $600,000 or more per victory.
| School | Coach | Conference | School Pay | Wins | Cost Per Win | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Click here for a gallery of the coaches with the highest "cost per win" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Southern Mississippi | Ellis Johnson | C-USA | $790,000 | 0 | N/A | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Kansas | Charlie Weis | Big 12 | $2,500,000 | 1 | $2,500,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Auburn | Gene Chizik | SEC | $3,500,000 | 3 | $1,166,667 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Iowa | Kirk Ferentz | Big Ten | $3,835,000 | 4 | $958,750 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| California | Jeff Tedford | Pac-12 | $2,600,000 | 3 | $866,667 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Kentucky | Joker Phillips | SEC | $1,700,000 | 2 | $850,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Illinois | Tim Beckman | Big Ten | $1,600,000 | 2 | $800,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Washington State | Mike Leach | Pac-12 | $2,250,000 | 3 | $750,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Colorado | Jon Embree | Pac-12 | $725,000 | 1 | $725,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| South Florida | Skip Holtz | Big East | $2,000,000 | 3 | $666,667 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Texas | Mack Brown | Big 12 | $5,292,500 | 8 | $661,563 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Virginia | Mike London | ACC | $2,552,760 | 4 | $638,190 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Missouri | Gary Pinkel | SEC | $2,700,000 | 5 | $540,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Oklahoma State | Mike Gundy | Big 12 | $3,275,000 | 7 | $467,857 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Oklahoma | Bob Stoops | Big 12 | $4,550,000 | 10 | $455,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Alabama | Nick Saban | SEC | $5,316,667 | 12 | $443,056 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Arizona State | Todd Graham | Pac-12 | $3,000,000 | 7 | $428,571 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia Tech | Paul Johnson | ACC | $2,440,700 | 6 | $406,783 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Massachusetts | Charley Molnar | MAC | $400,625 | 1 | $400,625 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Maryland | Randy Edsall | ACC | $1,600,000 | 4 | $400,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Utah | Kyle Whittingham | Pac-12 | $2,000,000 | 5 | $400,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Tennessee | Derek Dooley | SEC | $2,000,000 | 5 | $400,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Virginia Tech | Frank Beamer | ACC | $2,343,000 | 6 | $390,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| New Mexico State | DeWayne Walker | WAC | $382,260 | 1 | $382,260 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Michigan | Brady Hoke | Big Ten | $3,046,120 | 8 | $380,765 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Idaho | Robb Akey | WAC | $375,797 | 1 | $375,797 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| LSU | Les Miles | SEC | $3,751,000 | 10 | $375,100 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Akron | Terry Bowden | MAC | $375,000 | 1 | $375,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| South Carolina | Steve Spurrier | SEC | $3,550,000 | 10 | $355,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Ohio State | Urban Meyer | Big Ten | $4,250,000 | 12 | $354,167 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Washington | Steve Sarkisian | Pac-12 | $2,425,000 | 7 | $346,429 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| West Virginia | Dana Holgorsen | Big 12 | $2,380,000 | 7 | $340,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Colorado State | Jim McElwain | Mt. West | $1,350,000 | 4 | $337,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Wisconsin | Bret Bielema | Big Ten | $2,600,000 | 8 | $325,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Mississippi State | Dan Mullen | SEC | $2,600,000 | 8 | $325,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Michigan State | Mark Dantonio | Big Ten | $1,934,250 | 6 | $322,375 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Connecticut | Paul Pasqualoni | Big East | $1,600,000 | 5 | $320,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Oregon | Chip Kelly | Pac-12 | $3,500,000 | 11 | $318,182 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Indiana | Kevin Wilson | Big Ten | $1,260,000 | 4 | $315,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Texas Tech | Tommy Tuberville | Big 12 | $2,150,000 | 7 | $307,143 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| North Carolina | Larry Fedora | ACC | $2,448,605 | 8 | $306,076 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Army | Rich Ellerson | Indep. | $600,000 | 2 | $300,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Wyoming | Dave Christensen | Mt. West | $1,200,000 | 4 | $300,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Nebraska | Bo Pelini | Big Ten | $2,875,000 | 10 | $287,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Penn State | Bill O'Brien | Big Ten | $2,300,000 | 8 | $287,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Iowa State | Paul Rhoads | Big 12 | $1,600,000 | 6 | $266,667 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia | Mark Richt | SEC | $2,811,340 | 11 | $255,576 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Florida State | Jimbo Fisher | ACC | $2,750,000 | 11 | $250,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Nevada-Las Vegas | Bobby Hauck | Mt. West | $500,000 | 2 | $250,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Mississippi | Hugh Freeze | SEC | $1,500,000 | 6 | $250,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Texas A&M | Kevin Sumlin | SEC | $2,436,000 | 10 | $243,600 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Louisville | Charlie Strong | Big East | $2,300,000 | 10 | $230,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Memphis | Justin Fuente | C-USA | $903,285 | 4 | $225,821 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Florida | Will Muschamp | SEC | $2,474,500 | 11 | $224,955 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| UCLA | Jim Mora | Pac-12 | $1,935,000 | 9 | $215,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Arizona | Rich Rodriguez | Pac-12 | $1,500,000 | 7 | $214,286 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Arkansas | John L. Smith | SEC | $850,000 | 4 | $212,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Clemson | Dabo Swinney | ACC | $2,040,024 | 10 | $204,002 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Kansas State | Bill Snyder | Big 12 | $2,200,000 | 11 | $200,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Minnesota | Jerry Kill | Big Ten | $1,200,000 | 6 | $200,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Cincinnati | Butch Jones | Big East | $1,769,648 | 9 | $196,628 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Boise State | Chris Petersen | Mt. West | $1,956,333 | 10 | $195,633 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| New Mexico | Bob Davie | Mt. West | $760,000 | 4 | $190,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Alabama at Birmingham | Garrick McGee | C-USA | $550,000 | 3 | $183,333 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Hawaii | Norm Chow | Mt. West | $550,000 | 3 | $183,333 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern Michigan | Ron English | MAC | $360,517 | 2 | $180,259 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Houston | Tony Levine | C-USA | $900,000 | 5 | $180,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Florida International | Mario Cristobal | Sun Belt | $522,183 | 3 | $174,061 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| South Alabama | Joey Jones | Sun Belt | $345,125 | 2 | $172,563 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Central Florida | George O'Leary | C-USA | $1,461,646 | 9 | $162,405 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Purdue | Danny Hope | Big Ten | $970,000 | 6 | $161,667 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Florida Atlantic | Carl Pelini | Sun Belt | $450,000 | 3 | $150,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Air Force | Troy Calhoun | Mt. West | $882,000 | 6 | $147,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Oregon State | Mike Riley | Pac-12 | $1,317,847 | 9 | $146,427 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| North Texas | Dan McCarney | Sun Belt | $545,000 | 4 | $136,250 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| North Carolina State | Tom O'Brien | ACC | $936,225 | 7 | $133,746 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Marshall | Doc Holliday | C-USA | $600,000 | 5 | $120,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Texas-El Paso | Mike Price | C-USA | $359,206 | 3 | $119,735 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| East Carolina | Ruffin McNeill | C-USA | $950,000 | 8 | $118,750 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Miami Ohio | Don Treadwell | MAC | $410,000 | 4 | $102,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Louisiana-Lafayette | Mark Hudspeth | Sun Belt | $800,000 | 8 | $100,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Arkansas State | Gus Malzahn | Sun Belt | $856,210 | 9 | $95,134 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Western Michigan | Bill Cubit | MAC | $377,250 | 4 | $94,313 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Troy | Larry Blakeney | Sun Belt | $455,000 | 5 | $91,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Texas State | Dennis Franchione | WAC | $360,500 | 4 | $90,125 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| San Diego State | Rocky Long | Mt. West | $800,000 | 9 | $88,889 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Rutgers | Kyle Flood | Big East | $750,000 | 9 | $83,333 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Louisiana Tech | Sonny Dykes | WAC | $750,000 | 9 | $83,333 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Buffalo | Jeff Quinn | MAC | $325,000 | 4 | $81,250 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Middle Tennessee State | Rick Stockstill | Sun Belt | $601,504 | 8 | $75,188 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Fresno State | Tim DeRuyter | Mt. West | $650,000 | 9 | $72,222 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Nevada | Chris Ault | Mt. West | $493,093 | 7 | $70,442 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Western Kentucky | Willie Taggart | Sun Belt | $475,000 | 7 | $67,857 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Ohio | Frank Solich | MAC | $500,000 | 8 | $62,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Central Michigan | Dan Enos | MAC | $325,000 | 6 | $54,167 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling Green | Dave Clawson | MAC | $363,000 | 8 | $45,375 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Texas-San Antonio | Larry Coker | WAC | $350,000 | 8 | $43,750 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Utah State | Gary Andersen | WAC | $415,000 | 10 | $41,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| San Jose State | Mike MacIntyre | WAC | $401,820 | 10 | $40,182 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Toledo | Matt Campbell | MAC | $360,000 | 9 | $40,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Ball State | Pete Lembo | MAC | $350,000 | 9 | $38,889 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Northern Illinois | Dave Doeren | MAC | $420,000 | 12 | $35,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Louisiana-Monroe | Todd Berry | Sun Belt | $250,000 | 8 | $31,250 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Kent State | Darrell Hazell | MAC | $300,000 | 11 | $27,273 | ||||||||||||||||||||
This table does not include private schools, as well as Temple, Pittsburgh and Navy because the data was unavailable or the most recently available compensation data are from calendar 2010.
Also not included are bonuses earned this season or compensation from sources outside the university.
Win totals are for the school; head coach whose compensation is listed may not have directed team in all games.
Army has one game remaining, Saturday against Navy.
Temple played 11 games this season, one less than the standard 12.
Hawaii played 12 games this season, one less than its standard 13.
Nevada-Las Vegas, New Mexico and South Alabama played 13 games because they played at Hawaii.
The table does include victories in conference championship games.
Source: USA TODAY Sports research
Source : http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/statistics/2012/12/04/college-football-coaches-salaries-cost-per-win/1745441/