Getting the top teaching job for a university soccer program is a giant deal, particularly on the Division I Soccer Bowl Subdivision (FBS) stage, the best within the sport. There are solely 136 FBS faculties, so there’s robust competitors to succeed in the highest stage. Whereas each coach desires of main their college to glory, every season sees groups underperforming the preseason expectations bestowed upon them.
Because of this, every season additionally options a number of faculties firing these underperforming coaches. Whereas school coaches usually make hundreds of thousands of {dollars} per 12 months, getting fired may be practically as profitable because of massive buyouts inside their contracts. In reality, this season has seen a report sum of money paid out to fired coaches.
This season, 15 faculties parted methods with head coaches who will obtain buyouts. There have been a number of different cases of coaches getting fired with trigger, so they are not included on this record. Per school soccer reporter Ross Dellenger, 15 coaches will obtain a whopping $228 million in buyouts. This is who’s getting main pay days.
Billy Napier (L) and Mark Stoops are among the many fired school soccer coaches who’ve obtained profitable buyouts. (James Gilbert/Getty Photos)
Brian Kelly, LSU: $54 million
LSU fired Brian Kelly on Oct. 26, and it looks like the college has been mired in a training mess ever since. Regardless of two 10-win seasons, Kelly was by no means capable of get the Tigers again into the Faculty Soccer Playoff. After a 5-3 begin this 12 months, the Tigers parted methods. Kelly is suing the varsity to earn his full buyout. Within the meantime, LSU employed Lane Kiffin as its new head coach. The Tigers now owe cash to Kiffin, Kelly, and Ed Orgeron, regardless of two of these coaches not being on the college.
Mark Stoops, Kentucky: $38 million
Mark Stoops is the all-time winningest coach in Kentucky soccer historical past, nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient to avoid wasting his job. Stoops acquired fired on Dec. 1 after a second consecutive dropping season. The college is in talks with Stoops to restructure what it owes him, although because it at present stands, he’ll get one of many largest buyouts the NCAA has ever seen.
Jonathan Smith, Michigan State: $33.5 million
Michigan State employed Jonathan Smith in 2023 with hopes he may assist the Spartans contend for a Large Ten title. As a substitute, the Spartans went 5-7 after which 4-8 in Smith’s two years on the helm earlier than firing him. He’ll additionally obtain an extra three months of well being advantages as a part of the buyout. Michigan State would possibly get some assist in paying Smith, since the coach should make “an affordable effort to hunt new employment.”
Billy Napier, Florida: $21 million
Florida has gained three championships since 1996, so there is a sure expectation of success in Gainesville. Billy Napier could not hit that stage with the Gators, ending 22-23 in 4 seasons. The college fired him, although he acquired a brand new job at James Madison shortly after his dismissal from Florida. His buyout doesn’t embrace any offsetting, which suggests he’ll be getting paid from each Florida and James Madison.
Hugh Freeze, Auburn: $15.8 million
Hugh Freeze signed a six-year, $49 million contract with Auburn in 2022. He made it about two-and-a-half seasons earlier than the college fired him, ending his Auburn tenure with a 15-19 report. Freeze will obtain everything of his cash even when he indicators with one other college.
Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State: $15 million
Mike Gundy gained fame again within the early days of the Web for his “I am a person—I am 40!” press convention. He spent 21 years at Oklahoma State and was the second-longest tenured head coach in FBS earlier than his dismissal. Gundy completed with a 170-90 report, a Large 12 title, and 12 victories in bowl video games. The college determined to half methods after a tough season final 12 months and a sluggish begin to this one.
Justin Wilcox, California: $10.9 million
Justin Wilcox started his teaching profession in 2001, although he did not grow to be a head coach till 2017, when California gave him a shot. Whether or not they have been within the Pac-12 or the ACC, the Bears may by no means fairly overcome mediocrity. Wilcox’s finest season was in 2019, when Cal completed with an 8-5 report. Over 9 years, Wilcox’s Bears went 48-55 and solely 26-47 in convention play.
Sam Pittman, Arkansas: $9.8 million
Sam Pittman had a good longer journey to changing into an FBS coach, spending 35 years on the junior school stage and at numerous assistant positions all through FBS faculties. Arkansas employed him in December 2019, and his first season was in the course of the COVID-19-impacted schedule. After that tough 12 months, Pittman appeared like he was turning issues round. The Razorbacks completed 9-4 in 2021, ending the season ranked twentieth within the Coaches Ballot. Regardless of two extra successful seasons over the following three years, the Razorbacks could not attain that 2021 stage of success. The college fired Pittman 5 video games into this season after a blowout loss at house towards Notre Dame. He ended his Razorbacks tenure with a 32-34 report.
James Franklin, Penn State: $9 million
Final season, James Franklin led Penn State inside a rating of reaching the nationwide championship. But that did not matter after a sluggish begin to this season. Franklin was fired in mid-October, and his buyout of about $49 million was one of many largest in school soccer historical past. Nevertheless, Franklin and Penn State negotiated a lesser buyout after the coach discovered a brand new house with Virginia Tech.
Brent Pry, Virginia Tech: $6 million
The Hokies fired Brent Pry in September after an 0-3 begin, ending his head teaching stint with a 16-21 report over three-plus seasons. However in a transfer that is by no means been seen earlier than, Virginia Tech rehired Pry as defensive coordinator after Franklin accepted the top teaching gig. Pry’s buyout is sort of like a increase, since he signed a brand new contract as defensive coordinator.
DeShaun Foster, UCLA: $5 million
DeShaun Foster spent a number of years with UCLA, serving in a number of positions (most notably working backs coach) earlier than getting the top teaching job in 2024. Foster did not see a lot success working this system at his alma mater, nevertheless. The Bruins completed 5-7 final 12 months and started this season with an 0-3 report earlier than UCLA confirmed Foster the door.
Trent Bray, Oregon State: $4 million
In 2024, Trent Bray acquired promoted to move coach from defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Oregon State. Bray changed Jonathan Smith, who left the Beavers to teach at Michigan State. Each coaches wound up getting fired this 12 months; Bray completed 5-14 with Oregon State, together with an 0-7 begin this season. Coincidentally, Bray has since taken a job with the opposite Pac-12 holdover, Washington State.
Trent Dilfer, UAB: $2.4 million
After his NFL profession ended, Trent Dilfer spent greater than a decade as a broadcaster earlier than shifting into teaching. Dilfer had a profitable stint at Lipscomb Academy, a highschool in Nashville, and that was sufficient for the UAB Blazers to rent him as their head coach. The soar to school did not go easily, nevertheless. The Blazers had a 9-21 report in two-and-a-half seasons beneath Dilfer earlier than UAB fired him.
Tim Beck, Coastal Carolina: $1.7 million
Tim Beck led the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers to an 8-5 report and Hawaii Bowl victory in his first season as head coach. Nevertheless, the previous two years resulted in .500 or under information, and the varsity fired Beck on Nov. 30. Lower than three weeks later, he accepted a job because the offensive coordinator of the South Florida Bulls.
Jay Norvell, Colorado State: $1.5 million
After a stable 5 years with Nevada, Jay Norvell headed to Fort Collins to teach the Colorado State Rams. He solely managed one successful season in 4 years, an 8-5 marketing campaign in 2024. After a 2-5 begin this season, the Rams fired Norvell and can owe him a modest buyout. Coincidentally, Norvell had 26 losses at each Nevada and Colorado State, although he gained 15 extra video games with the Wolf Pack.
