Are these coaches over- or underpaid?

Sports

There's just too much money being thrown around in college football. And Georgia's not doing much of the tossing. Are these SEC coaches being overpaid or underpaid?

Georgia head coach Mark Richt, whose current contract runs until 2013, makes a base salary of $2.8 million per year.

Rodney Garner -- the Bulldogs' defensive line coach, recruiting coordinator and assistant head coach -- turned down $400,000 from Auburn to stay with Georgia, where he has a one-year deal that pays him $263,301, including supplements and bonuses.

Tennessee's new head coach Lane Kiffin signed a six-year deal in November that will pay him a base salary of $2 million and includes a $300,000 bonus if the Volunteers compete for the national championship.

Tennessee hired defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for $1.2 million. He will receive a $300,000 retention bonus if hangs around until Dec. 31.

Ed Orgeron, who'll do the same job for Tennessee that Garner is doing for Georgia, was hired for $650,000. He last coached the New Orleans Saints' defensive line and was the head coach at Ole Miss.

South Carolina's Steve Spurrier's contract earns him $1.75 million a year through 2012. He has a buyout clause where Spurrier or the school would pay $500,000 for every year remaining on the deal.

Georgia defensive coordinator Willie Martinez is the Bulldogs' highest paid assistant at $320,300.

Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino signed a five-year contract last season that pays him $2.85 million, second only behind Alabama's Nick Saban's $3.75 million contract. Petrino's deal includes a $2.85 million buyout for the first four years.

1/8

Georgia head coach Mark Richt, whose current contract runs until 2013, makes a base salary of $2.8 million per year.

Today's Gallery Headlines

Region 5AA Championship : Holy Innocents vs. KIPP Atlanta

PHOTOS: Holy Innocents’ wins Region 5AA championship in basketball

aajc 021926 state vs. georgia southern hoops

PHOTOS: Georgia State gets by Georgia Southern

Trump visits North Georgia today but has eyes on Atlanta

PHOTOS: Trump visits Georgia, revisits 2020 election

PHOTOS: Georgia track and field gets major facilities upgrade

More Galleries

GHSA Championship, Dance, Akins Ford Arena, Athens

PHOTOS: Georgia teams dance way to state championships

PHOTOS: Day 3 of Spring Training for Braves

PHOTOS: Braves settle into day 2 of spring training

Alerts