ATHENS — The run to the national championship game has indeed become a financial boon to the staff of Kirby Smart, whose 10 on-field assistant coaches will earn a combined nearly $2 million more than last year.
The highlights on the new salary pool for the 10 assistants, which is $6.42 million, up from $4.56 million:
- Defensive coordinator Mel Tucker has received a raise to $1.5 million, up from $900,000 last year. Georgia's defense was one of the best in the country this past season.
- Assistant coach James Coley, expected to move from receivers coach to another position, has been bumped to $850,000 from $450,000 last year. Coley turned down a job offer from Texas A&M to become offensive coordinator.
- Offensive line coach Sam Pittman will now earn $825,000, after earning $660,000 last year.
- Offensive coordinator Jim Chaney received a $100,000 raise, and will now earn $950,000.
Strength and conditioning coordinator Scott Sinclair also received a significant bump, and will now earn $450,000. Sinclair earned $300,000 last year.
Here is the outlay for the 2018 staff, and compared to 2017:
2018 staff: 6.42 million
Tucker, Mel $1,500,000
Chaney, Jim $950,000
Coley, James $850,000
Pittman, Sam $825,000
McGee, Dell $550,000
Scott, Tray $420,000
Hankton, Cortez $375,000
Schumann, Glenn $325,000
Lanning, Dan $325,000
Fountain, Scott $300,000
2017 staff: $4.56 million
Mel Tucker — $900,000
Jim Chaney — $850,000
Sam Pittman — $660,000
James Coley — $450,000
Tray Scott — $400,000
Kevin Sherrer — $375,000
Dell McGee — $350,000
Shane Beamer — $300,000
Glenn Schumann — $275,000
Smart himself is expected to receive a substantial increase from his $3.75 million base salary, but that has not been announced yet.
New roles and titles on the staff could also be in order, but were not announced.
Georgia’s salary rule compares favorably with the staffs of two other powerhouse programs, who have also announced their assistant coach salaries for 2018.
The salary pool for Ohio State’s assistant coaches are now $7.06 million, with raises this offseason that totaled $3.4 million. So it nearly doubled, helped by the addition of the 10th assistant coach, Alex Grinch, who received $800,000 to leave Washington State for Ohio State.
Eight of Ohio State’s 10 assistants are earning at least $500,000.
The salary pool for Clemson’s assistant coaches is now $6.58 million, with raises this offseason of just under $1 million. Four of Clemson’s assistant coaches are earning at least $500,000.
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