From SI · · 2m
Largest College Football and Basketball Buyouts
Fired coaches get massive buyouts rivaling active salaries in college sports.
In brief
Fired coaches get massive buyouts rivaling active salaries in college sports. Top college football coaches received $53.2 million buyouts when fired, with basketball buyouts at $14.7 million. Originally reported by SI.
Fired coaches earn big buyouts
Fired college football and basketball coaches receive buyouts that rival active salaries.
College football buyouts
Jimbo Fisher got $77.6 million from Texas A&M, Brian Kelly $53.2 million from LSU.
Top football buyouts
Mark Stoops received $37.6 million from Kentucky, Jonathan Smith $33 million from Michigan State.
Football buyouts continue
Gus Malzahn got $21.4 million from Auburn, Billy Napier $21.2 million from Florida.
Football buyouts list
Charlie Weis got $18.9 million from Notre Dame, Willie Taggart $17 million from Florida State.
Football buyouts list
Ed Orgeron got $17 million from LSU, Hugh Freeze $15.8 million from Auburn.
Honorable mentions
Maryland's Mike Locksley got $9.6 million after eight seasons and a 39-54 record.
Penn State buyout
Penn State fired James Franklin for $48.6 million, but he got $9 million after negotiating with Virginia Tech.
2025 buyouts
Fired coaches in 2025 earned $224 million total through buyouts and settlements.
Payment structures
Some buyouts are paid over time, like Mark Stoops' $6.75 million annually through April 2031.
College basketball buyouts
Danny Manning got $14.7 million from Wake Forest, Patrick Ewing $12.5 million from Georgetown.
Basketball buyouts list
Archie Miller got $10.3 million from Indiana, Tubby Smith $9.75 million from Memphis.
Basketball buyouts list
Thad Matta got $9 million from Ohio State, Matt McMahon $8 million from LSU.
Basketball buyouts list
Kevin Keatts got $6.75 million from NC State, Mike Woodson $6.5 million from Indiana.
Basketball buyouts list
Avery Johnson got $5.5 million from Alabama, Rodney Terry $5.4 million from Texas.
Kansas State case
Jerome Tang's buyout was $18.7 million but he got $12 million after a lawsuit settlement.
UConn case
Kevin Ollie won $3.9 million after a lawsuit, plus $11.1 million from an arbitrator ruling.
Vanderbilt case
Jerry Stackhouse got $3.4 million in tax records from 2024 after being fired.
At a glance
Top college football coaches received $53.2 million buyouts when fired, with basketball buyouts at $14.7 million.
