USC is willing to pay top dollar to their next head coach. In fact, they are ready to make somebody the highest paid coach in college football.
According to a report by Travis Haney of ESPN.com, the Trojans could be prepared to cut a $6 million contract to their next head coach. While profiling Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin as a potential coaching candidate for USC’s vacant position, Haney reports USC Athletics Director Pat Haden and the university are ready to make their next head coach among the highest paid in the game. Per ESPN.com:How serious are the Trojans? One industry source told me this week that USC is willing to extend an offer of up to $6 million a year to get its man. Yes, that’s more than Nick Saban makes (for now).
“This hire means that much to them,” the source said. “There’s only one USC. I talk to a lot of people who have worked there and they say it’s the best place they’ve ever coached.”
According to this year’s database of coaching salaries published by USA Today, Alabama’s Saban and Mack Brown of Texas are the only two coaches earning at least $5 million this season. For what it’s worth, Lane Kiffin was making $2,406,505 from USC for this season before being dismissed earlier this season. Texas A&M is paying Sumlin $2,436,300 this year.
There is no doubt USC will have the funds to hire the right coach, but just who is going to be the coach who commands that value at USC? The $6 million mark may be an extreme, but it is pretty clear USC is taking this search seriously. USC needs to find the right coach who can turn things around in a hurry. They are not going to get Saban, so is there any coach out there who would be worth that high-priced contract?
