Some time ago -- somewhere between the creation of TikTok and the dawn of man, it's hard to be sure -- the typical college football coach employed one defensive backs coach.
No longer.
The typical staff now employs two, a couple of them (NC State and Oregon) have three, employing one coach for the safeties, one for the corners, and one coach dedicated to the nickel backs.
As the pass game took over football, teams invested in their pass defense in more ways than one. Most programs devote two staff spots to the position, and those coaches are usually paid well. We count more than 30 earning at least half a million dollars a year, and more than 60 paid at least $300,000 a year.
1. Morgan Scalley, Utah* -- $1.4 million
2. Phil Parker, Iowa* -- $1.3 million
3. Blake Baker, Missouri* -- $1.2 million
4. Tim Walton, Ohio State -- $1 million
5. Steve Clinkscale, Michigan -- $850,000
6. Joe Klanderman, Kansas State* -- $825,000
6. John Rudzinski, Virginia* -- $825,000
8. Charlton Warren, North Carolina -- $813,000
9. Mickey Conn, Clemson -- $800,000
9. Chris Hampton, Oregon -- $800,000
9. Terry Joseph, Texas -- $800,000
9. Mike Reed, Clemson -- $800,000
9. Travaris Robinson, Alabama -- $800,000
14. Perry Eliano, Ohio State -- $773,000
15. Corey Raymond, Florida -- $755,000
16. Fran Brown, Georgia -- $750,000
17. Chuck Morrell, Washington -- $725,000
18. Ron English, Louisville -- $700,000
18. Addison Williams*, UCF -- $700,000
19. Joe Lorig, Oregon^ -- $675,000
20. Evan Cooper, Nebraska -- $670,000
21. Zac Etheridge, Auburn -- $650,000
22. Brian Borland, Kansas -- $600,000
22. Sharrieff Shah, Utah^ -- $600,000
24. Tim Duffie, Oklahoma State -- $550,000
24. Colin Hitschler, Wisconsin -- $550,000
24. Derek Jones, Virginia Tech -- $550,000
24. Marcel Yates, Texas Tech -- $550,000
28. Willie Martinez, Tennessee -- $540,000
29. Brian Norwood, UCLA -- $535,000
30. Harlon Barnett, Michigan State -- $525,000
31. Kerry Cooks, LSU -- $500,000
31. Torrian Gray, South Carolina -- $500,000
31. Robert Steepels, LSU -- $500,000
34. Blake Gideon, Texas -- $475,000
35. ShaDon Brown, West Virginia -- $450,000
35. Dan Hammerschmidt, Oklahoma State -- $450,000
35. Demetrice Martin, Oregon -- $450,000
38. Sam Carter, Purdue -- $430,000
39. Paul Haynes, Wisconsin -- $425,000
40. Van Malone, Kansas State -- $410,000
41. Darcel McBath, Mississippi State -- $400,000
41. Nick Monroe, Minnesota -- $400,000
41. Mark Orphey, Rutgers -- $400,000
41. Patrick Surtain, Florida State -- $400,000
45. Henry Baker, Maryland -- $390,000
45. Joe DeForest, NC State -- $390,000
47. Chris Collins, Kentucky -- $375,000
47. Kerry Coombs, Cincinnati^ -- $375,000
47. Jim Salgado, Michigan State -- $375,000
47. Travares Tillman, Georgia Tech -- $375,000
51. Brian Phillips, NC State -- $366,000
52. Curome Cox, Virginia -- $365,000
53. Wes Neighbors, Ole Miss -- $350,000
53. Brandon Shelby, Indiana -- $350,000
55. Blue Adams, Oregon State -- $335,000
56. Antonio Fenelus, Illinois -- $325,000
56. Jordan Peterson, Kansas -- $325,000
56. Al Pogue, Missouri -- $325,000
59. Deon Broomfield, Iowa State -- $315,000
60. Juice Brown, Washington -- $300,000
60. Chuck Cecil, Arizona -- $300,000
60. Keynodo Hudson, Ole Miss -- $300,000
60. Zac Spavital, Maryland -- $300,000
60. Deron Wilson, Arkansas -- $300,000
* - Defensive coordinator
^ - Special teams coordinator
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Missing: Brett Dewhurst, Mississippi State; Steve Ellis, Louisville; Bryant Gross-Armiento, Texas A&M; Matt Guerrieri, Indiana; Jason Jones, North Carolina; Charles Kelly, Colorado; Kevin Mathis, Colorado; Wes McGriff, Auburn
-- Travaris Robinson took over the entire Alabama secondary from 2022 to '23. No word yet on a rais. . Corey Raymond saw a similar promotion and netted a raise of $30,000.
-- Etheridge was one of a holdover from Bryan Harsin's Auburn staff to Hugh Freeze's. Ahead of the 2022 campaign, Harsin promoted the former Tiger to associate head coach, with a 2-year, $1.25 million contract to boot. Freeze named Cadillac Williams his associate head coach, but as of yet we have no word that he altered the contract that Harsin awarded.