Michigan Football: U-M's Assistant Coaches Among Highest Paid In The Nation

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USA Today released a list of the highest-paid assistants in college football on Thursday, and several Michigan coaches made the cut.

Defensive coordinator Don Brown checked in as the fifth-highest paid assistant in the entire nation, making $1,300,000 per year. That total includes a $300,000 retention payment he received for being at U-M as of April 1.

Passing game coordinator Pep Hamilton and offensive coordinator Tim Drevno each showed up at No. 10 on the list, earning $1,150,000 per year. That amount includes a $150,000 one-time signing bonus.

Perhaps a bit surprisingly, no other Big Ten assistant coach made an appearance on the list until Nebraska defensive coordinator Bob Diaco at No. 26, raking in $825,000 per year.

Minnesota defensive coordinator Robb Smith and Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano were both next at No. 38, making $700,000 per year.

Here's a look at the salaries of the rest of the Michigan assistants, with their national rank listed first: defensive line coach Greg Mattison (No. 90, $525,000), tackles and tight ends coach Greg Frey (No. 107, $500,000), special teams/linebackers coach Chris Partridge (No. 239, $350,000), cornerbacks coach Mike Zordich (No. 337, $295,000), running backs coach Jay Harbaugh (No. 461, $225,000), former safeties coach Brian Smith (No. 624, $150,000).

Unsurprisingly, Michigan's combined assistant total earnings ($5,645,000) was by far the highest in the Big Ten and fourth-highest in the nation.

Only Alabama ($5,995,000), LSU ($5,915,000) and Clemson ($5,725,000) were higher.

Ohio State was the next Big Ten school on the list, coming in at No. 13 ($4,485,000).

Indiana came in as the lowest conference school on the list, only paying its assistants $2,499,362.

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