Skip to main content

Alabama's Nick Saban now highest paid college coach

Alabama's Nick Saban is now college football's highest paid coach. (Leon Halip/Getty Images)

Nick Saban was the Browns' defensive coordinator under Bill Belichick in the early 90's. (Leon Halip/Getty Images)

The University of Alabama made head football coach Nick Saban the sport's highest paid coach, approving a new contract that will keep him at the school until 2020, reports ESPN.com.

Saban will now make $5.62 million per season. The school also gave a pay raise to defensive coordinator Kirby Smart, and he will make $1.28 million per year making him the highest paid defensive coach in the nation.

Saban's contract runs through Jan. 31, 2020 and he passes Texas' Mack Brown as the sport's highest paid coach. Alabama, who has won three of the past four national championships, also gave pay raises to most Saban's staff.

From ESPN.com:

The only change made to his contract on Tuesday was an added bonus to reflect the new BCS playoff format. He will make $200,000 if he reaches the semifinal game, $300,000 if he reaches the championship game and $400,000 if he wins the title. The board also approved raises to offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier ($680,000 from $590,000), defensive line coach Chris Rumph ($360,000 from $310,000), linebackers coach Lance Thompson ($400,000 from $375,000), tight ends/special teams coach Bobby Williams ($400,000 from $350,000) and running backs coach Burton Burns ($315,000 from $290,000).