It’s that time of year for college football coaching changes.

Or perhaps it’s more accurate to say it used to be the time for new coaching hires and departures.

The realm of college football has seen significant shifts in 2024 compared to previous years. With the introduction of NIL deals and booster-led collectives, along with impending revenue sharing, schools are reevaluating how they allocate funds to build successful teams.

Previously, the highest salaries went to coaches, but this pattern is beginning to change as schools invest more in player rosters rather than coaching staff.

This change in priority is reflected in situations like Florida coach Billy Napier retaining his position despite a mediocre 4-4 record halfway through the season. Florida’s athletics director, Scott Stricklin, made a statement on November 7 confirming that Napier would remain as coach while speculation about his job security circulated. (Napier’s buyout is over $26 million.) YSL News NETWORK columnist Blake Toppmeyer labeled the endorsement as “weak.” Although Florida has since gained bowl eligibility, the university recognizes that attracting top talent requires substantial investments, and also that stability is crucial for recruiting.

At this point of the season, with bowl games approaching, coaches who haven’t met expectations would typically be searching for new positions. This year, however, there are only four openings in the Power Four conference: North Carolina, UCF, Purdue, and West Virginia. After UCF re-hired Scott Frost and Purdue recruited Barry Odom from UNLV, only two coaching vacancies remain. Many programs are assessing the salaries of their assistants, and some have already made changes.

YSL News Sports examines the five assistant coaches in college football who are likely overpaid:

(Coaches who were fired are not included in this list. However, being paid to do nothing, like former FSU defensive coordinator Adam Fuller, certainly qualifies as overpaid. Tony Gibson accepted the head coaching position at Marshall after the season ended.)

TOP FIVE OVERPAID ASSISTANTS

1. Blake Baker, LSU, defensive coordinator

Annual Pay: $2.5 million

It’s quite astonishing how Baker could dominate this list. At 42, he’s the highest-paid assistant in the nation, despite his team finishing the regular season with an 8-4 record. He’s being compensated $2.5 million to develop a strong defense, yet the Tigers rank a lowly 52nd in total defense. This ranking significantly contributed to their mediocre 5-3 SEC record and yet another missed playoff chance under head coach Brian Kelly. Allowing 38 points to Texas A&M and 42 to Alabama, both losses, certainly doesn’t help his case.

It’s even more concerning given that LSU paid Missouri $950,000 to secure Baker’s buyout when they hired him in January. On top of that, LSU was responsible for Matt House’s buyout of around $3.7 million, leading to dissatisfaction in the Tigers’ athletic department. (House was picked up by the Jacksonville Jaguars as an inside linebackers coach, which reduced some of his buyout burden.)

2. Tony Gibson, NC State, defensive coordinator

Annual Pay: $1.5 million

Surprisingly, the 6-6 Wolfpack employed one of the highest-paid assistant coaches. Gibson, now in his fourth year with NC State, was expected to build a formidable defense, but the team ended the regular season ranked 84th nationally and barely qualified for a bowl game. He might be looking for a fresh start as he’s expected to take a pay cut in his new role as head coach at Marshall.

3. Morgan Scalley, Utah, defensive coordinator

Annual Pay: $2 million

This is an uncomfortable situation. Scalley is overpaid in light of Utah’s disappointing season, missing bowl eligibility for the first time since 2013 with a 5-7 record. Additionally, in the summer, it was reported that Scalley is set to be the next head coach for Utah when Kyle Whittingham retires. The Utes’ total defense ranking was no higher than 30, which isn’t promising. Andy Ludwig, another potential candidate for this list, resigned as offensive coordinator after his salary of $2,050,000. While it’s acknowledged that injuries contributed to their difficulties this season, earning $2 million a year typically comes with postseason expectations.

4. Chip Kelly, Ohio State offensive coordinator

Current Pay: $2 million

Winning the critical game against Michigan would have spared him from this discussion. But continual losses to them, particularly in a year where the talent gap favors Ohio State, raises questions about salary. While Chip Kelly was once considered one of the brightest offensive strategists in college football, his offensive performance under head coach Ryan Day should at the very least surpass 10 points against OSU’s top rival.

5. Wink Martindale, Michigan, Defensive Coordinator

Salary: $2.3 million

This situation is somewhat complicated. As the reigning national champions, Michigan wrapped up their regular season with a total defense ranking of No. 15. While that’s not disastrous, it falls short of expectations, especially for one of the highly compensated assistant coaches nationwide. Notably, Martindale transitioned back to college coaching after gaining recognition for his impressive NFL defenses, particularly with the Baltimore Ravens. He is set to receive a significant yearly raise of $200,000 throughout his three-year contract, which extends until January 10, 2027.

It’s essential to note that much of the Wolverines’ struggles can be traced back to former head coach Jim Harbaugh, who departed for the NFL at the end of January, leaving Michigan in a tough spot. Nevertheless, when evaluating Martindale’s performance, a 7-5 record raises concerns—especially following their success in 2023. However, there’s always added appreciation from fans and administrators when a team manages to beat a long-time rival, especially amid a challenging season.

Others nominated: Brad White (Kentucky defensive coordinator), Pete Golding (Mississippi defensive coordinator), Joe Rossi (Michigan State defensive coordinator), Brian Hartline (Ohio State co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers), Kane Wommack (Alabama defensive coordinator).