Alabama Crimson Tide Football
Nick Saban’s retirement started a chain reaction that led to millions of dollars in raises for coaches at other schools
Legendary college football coach Nick Saban surprised some when he announced his retirement following the 2023 season.
For 28 seasons, including the final 17 at the University of Alabama, Saban served as head coach. Six of the seven national titles he guided teams to were earned with the Crimson Tide.
Inevitably, when a head football coach post at one of the elite programs becomes available, it sets off a chain reaction in the college football world as agents and coaches vie for that highly sought-after position and the other positions that become available as coaches start moving.
Saban needs to be replaced by someone. That coach needs to be replaced, and so on.
Take a look at the coaches whose incomes have already increased as a result of Saban’s retirement.
Kalen DeBoerSalary in 2023: $4.2 millionLikely new salary: At least $10 millionKalen DeBoer is tasked with replacing the legendary Saban and taking over an Alabama football program that has won 18 national championships.DeBoer has only been a head coach in major college football since 2020. He spent two years at Fresno State, making about $1.3 million per season. He then moved to the University of Washington, where this For the first time since 2016, he guided the team to the College Football Playoff. This last season, he earned $4.2 million, according to USA Today.The specifics of DeBoer’s new deal with Alabama are still under wraps. Nevertheless, he declined a $9.4 million-a-year contract offer from Washington, according to the Seattle Times. College football insiders therefore predict that he will make more than twice as much money per year at Bama, perhaps even over $10 million, as his new salary.If this is true, DeBoer will rise from being the 44th-highest paid college football coach to within the top five. Not bad for someone who was earning $800,000 a year as an assistant coach as recently as 2019.
Brent BrennanSalary in 2023: $2.3 millionNew salary: $2.7 millionReplacing Fisch at Arizona is former San Jose State head football coach Brent Brennan.In 2023, Brennan was the 67th highest-paid coach in college football, making $2.3 million a year. According to ESPN, his raise will be more modest this season than those of DeBoer and Fisch, jumping to $2.7 million. However, his salary is expected to increase to $3.6 million over the next five years, and he also has a chance to earn up to $1.2 million each year with performance bonuses built into the contract.When Brennan was hired by San Jose State in 2017, his salary was $575,000.
Ken NiumataloloLikely salary in 2023: Less than $1 millionLikely new salary: At least $2.3 millionThe final head coaching domino to fall came when San Jose State hired Ken Niumatalolo as their new head football coach.Niumatalolo most recently served as an assistant coach and advisor to Chip Kelly at UCLA. His salary details have not been announced yet, but ESPN reports it is a 5-year contract.We can’t be certain how much of a raise Niumatalolo will get with his new job. However, the salaries of UCLA assistant coaches range from $310,000 to $1 million. We also know his predecessor at San Jose State made $2.3 million annually. That is also comparable to Niumatalolo’s salary in his final season as the longtime head coach at the Naval Academy.
Many assistant coaches will also see wage increases.Although Saban’s retirement will primarily affect head coaching, several assistants will also see pay gains.The pay will differ depending on the role and school. But when a head coach joins with a new school, he usually brings many of his assistants from the prior one, and a wage increase usually follows a move up the college football ranks to a more lucrative school.Two of DeBoer’s best assistants at Alabama played the same job as he did at Washington. More might come as he assembles his team.
