Ohio State football assistant coach salary surpasses $15 million for 2026

Matt Patricia becomes the highest-paid assistant coach in college football, as other Buckeye assistants get new deals.

Ohio State released updated salary information for its assistant coaches on Tuesday. (Photo courtesy of OSU athletics)

COLUMBUS — The first day of Ohio State spring practice brought news of big paydays for some of the football program’s assistant coaches.

All in, the Buckeyes will pay more than $15 million to their assistant coaches for the 2026 season.

Defensive coordinator Matt Patricia is the headliner. After receiving some interest from NFL teams looking to fill vacant coordinator positions this offseason, Patricia opted to remain in Columbus. His reward? A new three-year deal through the 2028 season that’s worth a total of $11.45 million, according to contracts obtained by BAD on Tuesday. Patricia will make $3.75 million this year, which should make him the highest-paid assistant coach in the country, and $3.85 million each in years two and three of the deal.

Patricia’s initial deal with the program, signed before last season, was a three-year contract that paid $2.5 million per year. The Buckeyes had the No. 1 scoring defense in the country in Patricia’s first season.

New offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who received NFL interest while weighing his offer from Ohio State, signed a two-year deal worth a total of $3.5 million. He’ll make $1.5 million in year one and $2 million in year two.

Neither Patricia nor Smith has prohibitive buyout language in their contracts should either choose to leave Ohio State before the end of their deals, presumably to return to the NFL. Smith would only owe OSU 30 percent of his then-current base salary if he left for another assistant job in college or the NFL. Patricia would owe 50 percent of his then-base salary if he left at any point for a college assistant job. He would owe 75 percent of his then-base salary if he left for an NFL assistant job before the end of the 2026 season, and 30 percent after that. Neither coach would owe Ohio State anything if he left for a head coaching job in college or the NFL.

Ohio State tapped former LSU receivers coach Cortez Hankton to replace Brian Hartline. Hankton signed a two-year deal that will pay him $900K this year and $1M next year.

New special teams coordinator Robby Discher, hired this offseason from Illinois, signed a two-year deal that will pay him $400K this year and $450K next year.

Other new deals for returning Ohio State assistants:

• Defensive line coach Larry Johnson signed a one-year deal that will pay him $1.6 million this season.

• Tight ends coach and co-offensive coordinator Keenan Bailey signed a two-year deal that will pay him $1 million this year and $1.1 million next year.

• Linebackers coach James Laurinaitis signed a two year-deal that will pay him $900K this year and $950K next year.

• Quarterbacks coach Billy Fessler signed a two-year deal that will pay him $750K this year and $800K this year.

• Running backs coach Carlos Locklyn signed a two-year deal that will pay him $700K this year and $750K next year.

The rest of Ohio State’s assistant coaches are working on existing deals that were signed prior to last season. Cornerbacks coach Tim Walton will make $1.8 million this year in year two of a three-year deal. Safeties coach Matt Guerrieri will make $1M this year in year two of a three-year deal. Offensive line coach Tyler Bowen will make $1M this year in year two of a three-year deal.

That makes seven of 12 assistants earning at least $1 million, pushing the total spend on assistant coaches to $15.3 million for 2026.

In addition to those 12 assistants, three other key members of the program will collectively earn $1.375 million in 2026. Head strength coach Mickey Marotti will make $1 million, general manager Mark Pantoni will make $925K, and football chief of staff Quinn Tempel will make $450K.