Coaching is a tough, thankless job where everyone thinks they can do better, resulting in high turnover—especially in Power Five college football. But being fired isn’t so bad with a million-dollar parachute.
After Texas A&M’s revelation about schools having enough funds to pay student-athletes, fired head coach Jimbo Fisher is set to receive over $76 million as part of his buyout and $75 million from his original 10-year, $75 million guaranteed deal in 2017. The university owes a minimum of $119 million to head football coaches before 2031, according to a report from Front Office Sports.
Texas A&M Athletic Director Ross Bjork stated that the necessary funds to cover the transition costs will come from Texas A&M athletics and the 12th Man Foundation.
Across the country, fired coaches are walking away with massive paydays. The rest of the report includes the following totals:
· Texas A&M’s Jimbo Fisher: $76 million
· Indiana’s Tom Allen: $15.5 million
· Houston’s Dana Holgorsen: $14.8 million
· Mississippi State’s Zach Arnett: $4.5 million
· Syracuse’s Dino Babers: $4 million (estimate; private school)
· Boise State’s Andy Avalos: $3 million
· New Mexico’s Danny Gonzales: $400,000
This list doesn’t include the $80 million that Michigan State would have owed Mel Tucker if they hadn’t fired him with cause.
The money for student-athletes has always been there, but schools don’t want to pay the players who make the money. Football may pay the best for getting fired, even surpassing Major League Baseball.