10 SEC coaches rank in top 15 highest-paid assistants of 2019 season

Some schools dish out more money on its assistant football coaches than others. But in the SEC this past season, there was a lot of money that went toward coaching staffs.

USA Today has updated its list of NCAA assistant coach salaries for the 2019 season. And of the top 15 highest-paid assistants in the country, 10 were from the SEC. LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda brought in the most money this year, as he earned $2.5 million.

The highest-paid offensive coordinator in the country was Alabama’s Steve Sarkisian, who ranked seventh overall. The Crimson Tide were the only team to have both of their top two assistants in the top 15 for salaries, as defensive coordinator Pete Golding ranked 15th at $1.1 million.

Here were the 15 highest-paid assistant coaches in the country in 2019 (SEC assistants in bold):

1. LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda — $2.5 million
2. Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables — $2.2 million
3. Texas A&M defensive coordinator Mike Elko — $2.1 million
4. Auburn defensive coordinator Kevin Steele — $1.9 million
5. Florida defensive coordinator Todd Grantham — $1.8 million
6. Texas defensive coordinator Todd Orlando — $1.7 million
7. Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian — $1.5 million
8. Arkansas defensive coordinator John Chavis — $1.5 million
9. Ole Miss defensive coordinator Mike MacIntyre — $1.5 million
10. Michigan defensive coordinator Don Brown — $1.5 million
11. Tennessee offensive coordinator Jim Chaney — $1.5 million
12. Washington defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake — $1.4 million
13. Oklahoma defensive coordinator Alex Grinch — $1.4 million
14. South Carolina defensive coordinator Travaris Robinson — $1.2 million
15. Alabama defensive coordinator Pete Golding — $1.1 million

Jake Rill

Jake Rill contributes to news coverage for Saturday Down South. He has covered the SEC since 2016.