FSU’s Mike Norvell Among Top-Paid Coaches Amid Tough Season

The 2024 season for Florida State University (FSU) and its head coach, Mike Norvell, seems to be taking an unexpected turn. Nevertheless, Norvell’s position appears secure following his contract extension on February 16th. USA TODAY Sports has released detailed information about college football coaches’ salaries, providing a clearer picture of Norvell’s financial standing within the landscape of college sports.

Mike Norvell currently earns an average annual salary (AAV) of $10 million, placing him fifth in the nation alongside Alabama‘s coach, Kalen DeBoer. Notably, Norvell’s bonus potential is slightly higher, capped at approximately $1.5 million, of which he has already earned $750,000. This makes Norvell the second-highest-paid coach in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), just behind Clemson‘s Dabo Swinney, who earns an annual salary of $11,132,775.

Within the state of Florida, Norvell stands as the highest-paid Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) head coach, with Mario Cristobal also among the top three, receiving over $7 million. Across the broader FBS, Georgia‘s Kirby Smart tops the list with an AAV of over $13 million, followed by Swinney and Texas‘ Steve Sarkisian, who earns $10.6 million.

Despite Norvell’s considerable earnings and his prominent status in terms of salary, FSU is currently facing challenges. The team is on a trajectory towards a losing record this season, which, if it materializes, would be Norvell’s third in his five-year tenure as head coach. Should the university opt to terminate Norvell’s contract, they would face a substantial buyout fee of $63,778,333, ranking as the third-highest among FBS schools, trailing only Georgia’s Kirby Smart and Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer.

The ACC features varying compensation among its head coaches. Rhett Lashlee is reported to be the lowest-paid Power 4 head coach in 2024 with a total compensation of $2,360,640. The introduction of Southern Methodist University (SMU), California, and Stanford into the ACC further creates a dynamic salary landscape, although some private institutions, including Boston College and Syracuse, have not disclosed salary details.