Quarterback is the most important position in sports, and so logic follows that the quarterbacks coach is often the highest-paid coach on staff (with a notable exception, which we'll get to in a moment.) Lincoln Riley is believed to be the highest-paid quarterbacks coach in the country, at around $10 million a year. Billy Napier is his own quarterbacks coach, as is Mike Leach.
There is no clearer path to riches in the game of football than playing (or coaching) the quarterback position at an elite level.
Unless, however, you happen to coach quarterbacks under a quarterback-centric head coach. AJ Milwee (Texas), Corey Dennis (Ohio State), and Tony Tokarz (Florida State) all coach quarterbacks under QB-centric-head coaches are the lowest-paid coaches on their collective staffs.
If the QBs they coach perform at an elite level, though, all three will be on the fast track to coordinator gigs and rocket up future editions of this list.
Due to the specialized nature of quarterback coaching, we've broken this list into two parts.
Highest-Paid OC/QB Coaches:
1. Jay Johnson, Michigan State -- $1.35 million
2. Todd Monken, Georgia -- $1.25 million
3. Kendal Briles, Arkansas -- $1.2 million
4. Bill O'Brien, Alabama -- $1.1 million
5. Ryan Grubb, Washington -- $1.02 million
6. Kenny Dillingham, Oregon -- $1 million
6. Bobby Engram, Wisconsin -- $1 million
6. Sean Gleeson, Rutgers -- $1 million
9. Brandon Streeter, Clemson -- $925,000
10. Andy Ludwig, Utah -- $915,000
11. Bill Musgrave, Cal -- $910,000
12. Phil Longo, North Carolina -- $900,000
12. Marcus Satterfield, South Carolina -- $900,000
12. Rich Scangarello, Kentucky -- $900,000
15. Mark Whipple, Nebraska -- $875,000
16. Brian Ferentz, Iowa -- $860,000
17. Darrell Dickey, Texas A&M -- $850,000
18. Tim Beck, NC State -- $835,000
19. Walt Bell, Indiana -- $700,000
19. Zach Kittley, Texas Tech -- $700,000
19. Brian Lindgren, Oregon State -- $700,000
22. Barry Lunney, Jr., Illinois -- $675,000
23. Mike Sanford, Colorado -- $625,000
23. Kirk Ciarocca, Minnesota -- $625,000
25. Graham Harrell, West Virginia -- $600,000
PREVIOUS INSTALLMENTS: Wide Receivers | Tight Ends | Defensive Line | Linebackers | Defensive Backs
Highest Paid QB Coaches:
1. Matt Weiss, Michigan -- $850,000
2. Charlie Weis, Jr., Ole Miss -- $800,000
3. Bush Hamdan, Missouri -- $550,000
4. Joe Sloan, LSU -- $550,000
5. Brad Glenn, Virginia Tech -- $475,000
6. Corey Dennis, Ohio State -- $400,000
6. Joel Gordon, Iowa State -- $400,000
8. Joey Halzle, Tennessee -- $350,000
9. Tim Rattay, Oklahoma State -- $315,000
10. AJ Milwee, Texas -- $300,000
10. Tony Tokarz, Florida State -- $300,000
Missing: Collin Klein (K-State), Eric Morris (Washington State)