It pays to be the one in charge.
Literally.
Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel will enter his third season with a $9 million annual salary, having received a bump from $5 million after guiding the Volunteers to an 11-2 record in 2022 that included a brief stay atop the College Football Playoff rankings and a 31-14 thumping of Clemson in the Orange Bowl.
For the first time since taking the Tennessee reins in January 2021, Heupel will make more than his 10 full-time assistant coaches combined. His staff made $6,680,000 this past season and will earn $6,808,750 this year, with that lack of a sizable jump due to Alex Golesh having a $1.2 million salary last year as offensive coordinator and Joey Halzle making $850,000 in that role now.
Halzle earned $400,000 as Tennessee's quarterbacks coach last season before replacing Golesh, who left in December to become head coach at South Florida.
Here are the updated annual salaries and contracts for Vols football coaches:
Head coach Josh Heupel — $9 million through 2028 season
Defensive coordinator Tim Banks — $1.5 million through 2024 season
Offensive line coach Glen Elarbee — $900,000 through 2025 season
Offensive coordinator Joey Halzle — $850,000 through 2025 season
Defensive line coach Rodney Garner — $785,000 through 2024 season
Linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary — $665,000 through 2024 season
Special teams/outside linebackers coach Mike Ekeler — $575,000 through 2024 season
Secondary coach Willie Martinez — $540,000 through 2023 season
Running backs coach Jerry Mack — $500,000 through 2024 season
Receivers coach Kelsey Pope — $250,000 through 2024 season
Tight ends coach Alec Abeln — $243,750 through 2025 season
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com.