Ed Orgeron leads way as college football head coaches rake in $11.4M in bonuses this season

Steve Berkowitz | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption LSU's Orgeron 'beaming' after finally proving doubters wrong What I'm Hearing: USA TODAY Sports' Dan Wolken was in New Orleans for the national championship and describes the emotions coming from LSU head coach Ed Oregon after his teams emphatic victory.

With the College Football Playoff championship trophy awarded and the final polls compiled, head coaches at FBS public schools have ended up with more than $11.4 million in bonuses from their teams’ on-field performances.

LSU’s Ed Orgeron, whose Tigers defeated Clemson for the CFP title, totaled $1.775 million. That is not only the top total for this season by $600,000, it also is the greatest single-season total in the six years USA TODAY Sports has been tracking these incentives. And Orgeron has another $200,000 based on team academic performance that he could get.

Four other coaches finished with at least $600,000 in bonuses: Oregon’s Mario Cristobal ($1.175 million), Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz ($775,000), Utah’s Kyle Whittingham ($621,667) and Clemson’s Dabo Swinney ($600,000).

Meanwhile, millions more went to assistant coaches, strength coaches, and — at some schools — to athletics directors and a range of team staffers. For example, Ohio State’s 10 assistant coaches and its strength coach will get a combined total of just over $2.7 million for the Buckeyes winning the Big Ten title and playing in the CFP semifinals.

In addition, a handful of head coaches reached benchmarks that trigger future considerations from their schools for themselves and/or their assistants. Kentucky’s Mark Stoops, Boise State’s Bryan Harsin and Louisiana Tech’s Skip Holtz picked up one-year contract extensions based on their team’s win totals.

And under Ferentz’s contract, the combination of Iowa’s final poll rankings, win total, bowl appearance and NCAA Graduation Success Rate will mean the Hawkeyes’ assistant coaches and strength coach will get pay increases for next season averaging at least 12%.

Here is a coach-by-coach, bonus-by-bonus look at incentives achieved this season, based on contracts USA TODAY Sports obtained from the schools through open-records requests. The amounts do not take into account the prospect of coaches forfeiting bonuses due to accepting a job at another school:

Alabama: Nick Saban ($90,000)

$65,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game

$25,000: Ninth win improves level of bowl appearance

***

Alabama at Birmingham: Bill Clark ($55,000)

$25,000: Sixth win, non-CFP bowl game

$25,000: Eighth regular-season win

$5,000: Ninth regular-season win

***

Appalachian State: Eliah Drinkwitz ($135,000)

$10,000: Play at home stadium of Power Five team in guarantee game (North Carolina)

$25,000: Sixth win, non-College Football Playoff bowl game

$25,000: Ninth win of the season

$25,000: Win Sun Belt division title

$50,000: Win Sun Belt championship

***

Arizona State: Herm Edwards ($237,500)

$50,000: Sixth win, non-CFP bowl game

$187,500: Win non-CFP bowl game

***

Arkansas State: Blake Anderson ($25,000)

$25,000: Sixth win, non-CFP bowl game

***

Auburn: Gus Malzahn ($50,000)

$50,000: Sixth win, non-CFP bowl game

***

Boise State: Bryan Harsin ($310,000)

$25,000: Regular-season win over Power Five team (Florida State)

$35,000: Sixth win, non-CFP bowl game

1-year contract extension worth at least $2.25 million: Eighth win

$25,000: Sixth conference win

$25,000: Seventh conference win

$50,000: Win Mountain West division title

$50,000: Eighth conference win

$100,000: Win Mountain West championship

***

Buffalo: Lance Leipold ($60,000)

$25,000: Sixth win, non-CFP bowl game

$35,000: Win non-CFP bowl game

***

California: Justin Wilcox ($190,000)

$40,000: Sixth win, non-CFP bowl game

$25,000: Victory over Stanford

$25,000: Sixth regular-season win

$100,000: Seventh regular-season win

***

Central Florida: Josh Heupel ($50,000)

$25,000: Sixth win, non-CFP bowl game

$25,000: Win non-CFP bowl game

***

Central Michigan: Jim McElwain ($75,000)

$20,000: Sixth win, non-CFP bowl game

$7,500: Seventh win

$20,000: Win MAC division title, play in MAC championship game

$2,500: Eighth win

$25,000: MAC coach of the year

***

Charlotte: Will Healy ($25,000)

$25,000: Sixth win, non-CFP bowl game

***

Cincinnati: Luke Fickell ($260,000)

$75,000: Sixth win, non-CFP bowl game

$10,000: Eighth regular-season win

$20,000: Ninth regular-season win

$30,000: 10th regular-season win

$50,000: Clinched at least share of the best regular-season record in the American Athletic Conference

$50,000: Among top 25 in final CFP rankings

$25,000: Win bowl game

***

Clemson: Dabo Swinney ($600,000)

$50,000: Eligible for non-CFP bowl game with at least eight regular-season wins

$50,000: Win ACC division title, play in ACC championship game

$150,000: Win ACC championship

$150,000: Team plays in College Football Playoff semifinals

$200,000: Win College Football Playoff semifinal

***

Connecticut: Randy Edsall ($88,000)

$26,000: Win any game (Wagner), plus at least eight single-game statistical bonuses at $2,000 each

$6,000: three single-game stat bonuses at $2,000 each

$4,000: two single-game stat bonuses at $2,000 each

$2,000: one single-game stat bonus at $2,000 each

$2,000: one single-game stat bonus at $2,000 each

$4,000: two single-game stat bonuses at $2,000 each

$26,000: Win any game (Massachusetts), plus at least eight single-game statistical bonuses at $2,000 each

$8,000: four single-game stat bonuses at $2,000 each

$6,000: three single-game stat bonuses at $2,000 each

***

Eastern Michigan: Chris Creighton ($25,000)

$25,000: Sixth win, non-CFP bowl game

***

Florida: Dan Mullen ($300,000)

$100,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game

$100,000: Play in CFP non-semifinal

$100,000: Top-10 ranking in final Amway Coaches or AP media poll (No. 7/No. 6)

***

Florida Atlantic: Lane Kiffin ($40,000)

$30,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game

$10,000: Win Conference USA championship

***

Florida International: Butch Davis ($35,000)

$35,000: Sixth win, non-CFP bowl game

***

Georgia: Kirby Smart ($275,000)

$50,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game

$100,000: Clinch SEC division title, play in SEC championship game

$25,000: Ninth win improves level of bowl appearance

$100,000: Team plays in CFP non-semifinal

***

Georgia Southern: Chad Lunsford ($16,500)

$7,500: Sixth win, non-CFP bowl game

$9,000: Seventh regular-season win

***

Georgia State: Shawn Elliott ($25,000)

$25,000: Sixth win, non-CFP bowl game

***

Hawaii: Nick Rolovich ($115,000)

$7,500: Regular-season home win over Power Five team (Arizona)

$7,500: Regular-season home win over Power Five team (Oregon State)

$20,000: Seventh win in 13-game schedule, non-CFP bowl game

1-year contract extension worth at least $425,000: Being eligible for bowl game

$40,000: Wins share of Mountain West division title, plays in MWC title game

$20,000: Mountain West coach of the year

$20,000: Win non-CFP bowl game

***

Illinois: Lovie Smith ($10,000)

$10,000: Sixth win, non-CFP bowl game

***

Indiana: Tom Allen ($300,000)

$100,000: Sixth win of the season

$100,000: Seventh win of the season

$100,000: Eighth win of the season

***

Iowa: Kirk Ferentz ($775,000)

$100,000: Sixth win, non-CFP bowl game

Additional year of contract goes from being 50% guaranteed in case of firing without cause to 100% guaranteed (potential value of $2.325 million): Seventh win

$500,000: Eighth win of the season

$175,000: Ranked No. 15 through No. 11 in final Amway Coaches or AP media poll (No. 15 in both)

***

Kansas State: Chris Klieman ($100,000)

$50,000: Sixth win, non-CFP bowl game

$50,000: Tied for third in final Big 12 standings

***

Kent State: Sean Lewis ($15,000)

$15,000: Sixth win, non-CFP bowl game

***

Kentucky: Mark Stoops ($100,000)

$100,000: Sixth win, non-CFP bowl game

1-year contract extension worth at least $4,687,500: Seventh win

***

Louisiana-Lafayette: Billy Napier ($75,000)

$25,000: Sixth win, non-CFP bowl game

$25,000: Win Sun Belt division title

$25,000: Sun Belt coach of the year

***

Louisiana State: Ed Orgeron ($1.775 million)

$25,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game

$250,000: 10th regular-season win

$100,000: 11th regular-season win

$100,000: Win SEC division title

$150,000: 12th regular-season win

$200,000: Win SEC championship

$225,000: Team plays in College Football Playoff semifinals

$25,000: SEC coach of the year by AP

$75,000: National coach of the year by ESPN/Home Depot

$150,000: Win College Football Playoff semifinal

$500,000: Win College Football Playoff championship

***

Louisiana Tech: Skip Holtz ($25,000)

$25,000: Sixth win, non-CFP bowl game

1-year contract extension worth at least $700,000: Eighth win

***

Louisville: Scott Satterfield ($150,000)

$100,000: Sixth win, non-CFP bowl game

$50,000: ACC coach of the year

***

Marshall: Doc Holliday ($30,000)

$30,000: Sixth win, non-CFP bowl game

***

Memphis: Mike Norvell ($340,000)

$35,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game

$55,000: Seventh win of the season

$35,000: Eighth win of the season

$30,000: Ninth win of the season

$25,000: Win AAC division title

$140,000: Team plays in New Year's Six non-semifinal

$20,000: Ranked No. 25 through No. 11 in final CFP rankings

***

Miami (Ohio): Chuck Martin ($88,856)

$44,428: Sixth win, non-CFP bowl game

$44,428: Win MAC championship

***

Michigan State: Mark Dantonio ($75,000)

$75,000: Sixth win, non-CFP bowl game

***

Minnesota: P.J. Fleck ($275,000)

$75,000: Sixth win, non-CFP bowl game

$100,000: Clinch at least a tie for Big Ten division title

$50,000: Big Ten coach of the year by coaches

$50,000: Win bowl game over Power Five conference team

***

Mississippi State: Joe Moorhead ($75,000)

$50,000: Sixth win, non-CFP bowl game

$25,000: Team plays in Music City Bowl

***

Missouri: Barry Odom ($5,000)

$5,000: Team in top 25 of AP media poll (week of Oct. 13)

***

Nevada: Jay Norvell ($10,000)

$10,000: Sixth win, non-CFP bowl game

***

New Mexico State: Doug Martin ($10,000)

$10,000: Victory over Texas-El Paso

***

North Carolina: Mack Brown ($75,000)

$75,000: Sixth win, non-CFP bowl game

***

Ohio: Frank Solich ($58,993)

$58,993: Win bowl game

***

Ohio State: Ryan Day ($450,000)

$50,000: Win Big Ten division title

$50,000: Big Ten coach of the year by media

$100,000: Win Big Ten championship

$250,000: Team plays in College Football Playoff semifinals

***

Oklahoma: Lincoln Riley ($300,000)

$25,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game

$50,000: Team plays in Big 12 championship game

$50,000: Win Big 12 championship

$50,000: In top 5 of final CFP rankings

$125,000: Team plays in College Football Playoff semifinal



***

Oklahoma State: Mike Gundy ($62,500)

$62,500: Sixth win, non-CFP bowl game

***

Oregon: Mario Cristobal ($1.175 million)

$100,000: Eligible for non-CFP bowl game with seven regular-season wins

$50,000: Non-CFP bowl game with at least eight regular-season wins

$250,000: Eighth regular-season win

$250,000: Ninth regular-season win

$100,000: Win Pac-12 North Division title

$250,000: 10th regular-season win

$150,000: Win Pac-12 championship

$25,000: Team plays in New Year's Six non-semifinal

***

Penn State: James Franklin ($300,000)

$200,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game

$100,000: Team plays in CFP non-semifinal

***

San Diego State: Rocky Long ($60,000)

$10,000: Win over Power Five team (UCLA)

$50,000: Sixth win, non-CFP bowl game

***

Southern Mississippi: Jay Hopson ($20,000)

$20,000: Seventh win overall and fifth conference win, putting team in non-CFP bowl game with winning overall record and winning conference record

***

Tennessee: Jeremy Pruitt ($100,000)

$100,000: Sixth win, non-CFP bowl game

***

Texas: Tom Herman ($75,000)

$25,000: Sixth win, non-CFP bowl game

$50,000: Win non-CFP bowl game

***

Texas A&M: Jimbo Fisher ($100,000)

$100,000: Sixth win, non-CFP bowl game

***

Utah: Kyle Whittingham ($621,667)

$15,000: Team in top 25 of Amway Coaches’ or AP media poll in preseason or during season (preseason poll)

$216,667: Sixth win, non-CFP bowl game

$50,000: Clinch at least tie for Pac-12 division title

$50,000: Play in Pac-12 championship game

$85,000: Team among top 25 of final College Football Playoff ranking (increases total for rankings to $100,000)

$55,000: Pac-12 coach of the year

$150,000: National coach of the year by Bobby Dodd Award

***

Utah State: Gary Andersen ($50,000)

$50,000: Sixth win, non-CFP bowl game

***

Virginia: Bronco Mendenhall ($75,000)

$75,000: Sixth win, non-CFP bowl game

$50,000: Win ACC division title, play in ACC championship game

***

Virginia Tech: Justin Fuente ($50,000)

$50,000: Seventh win, including two over FCS teams: non-CFP bowl game

***

Washington: Chris Petersen ($75,000)

$75,000: Sixth win, non-CFP bowl game

***

Washington State: Mike Leach ($75,000)

$75,000: Sixth win, non-CFP bowl game

***

Western Kentucky: Tyson Helton ($100,000)

$50,000: Seventh win, assures winning record for the season

$50,000: Win non-CFP bowl game

***

Western Michigan: Tim Lester ($54,000)

$25,000: Sixth win, non-CFP bowl game

$10,000: Seventh win

$19,000: 13 All-MAC team selections

***

Wisconsin: Paul Chryst (TBD)

To-be-determined share of staff bonus pool now worth nearly $100,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game

Additional amount of nearly $100,000 to staff bonus pool: Seventh win

Additional amount of nearly $150,000 to staff bonus pool: Eighth win

Additional amount of nearly $150,000 to staff bonus pool: Ninth win

Additional amount of nearly $250,000 to staff bonus pool: 10th win

Additional amount of nearly $200,000 to staff bonus pool ($950,000 total): Play in Big Ten championship game

***

Wyoming: Craig Bohl ($150,000)