Ohio State’s assistant coaches will make a total of $11.775 million in 2025.
Matt Patricia will be Ohio State’s highest-paid assistant coach, making $2.5 million in 2025 as the Buckeyes’ new defensive coordinator. That’s $300,000 more than Jim Knowles’ base salary as Ohio State’s defensive coordinator last year, though less than the $3.1 million Knowles will reportedly make at Penn State.
Brian Hartline will make $2 million – the same salary Chip Kelly received last year – following his promotion to offensive coordinator.
Tim Walton will be Ohio State’s third-highest-paid assistant, making $1.8 million in 2025 following his promotion to co-defensive coordinator. His new three-year contract calls for his salary to be increased to $1.9 million in 2027.
Larry Johnson will be Ohio State’s fourth million-dollar assistant in 2025, making $1.4 million this year, though the longtime defensive line coach is the only assistant that didn’t receive a new contract for the 2025 season, with his current two-year contract set to expire in 2026.
New offensive line coach and run game coordinator Tyler Bowen and recently promoted passing game coordinator Matt Guerrieri will each make $900,000 in 2025. Per their three-year contracts, their salaries will increase to $1 million in 2026 and $1.1 million in 2027.
Running backs coach Carlos Locklyn and co-offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Keenan Bailey will each make $650,000 in 2025. Linebackers coach James Laurinaitis will make $500,000 while new quarterbacks coach Billy Fessler will receive a $475,000 salary.
| COACH | TITLE | 2025 SALARY | 2024 SALARY | CHANGE | CONTRACT END |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MATT PATRICIA | DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR | $2,500,000 | N/A | N/A | 2028 |
| BRIAN HARTLINE | OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR/WIDE RECEIVERS COACH | $2,000,000 | $1,600,000 | +$400,000 | 2028 |
| TIM WALTON | CO-DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR/SECONDARY COACH | $1,800,000 | $1,400,000 | +$400,000 | 2028 |
| LARRY JOHNSON | ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH/DEFENSIVE LINE COACH | $1,400,000 | $1,400,000 | $0 | 2026 |
| TYLER BOWEN | OFFENSIVE LINE COACH/RUN GAME COORDINATOR | $900,000 | $875,000 | +$25,000 | 2028 |
| MATT GUERRIERI | PASSING GAME COORDINATOR/SAFETIES COACH | $900,000 | $425,000 | +$475,000 | 2028 |
| KEENAN BAILEY | CO-OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR/TIGHT ENDS COACH | $650,000 | $400,000 | +$250,000 | 2027 |
| CARLOS LOCKLYN | RUNNING BACKS COACH | $650,000 | $650,000 | $0 | 2027 |
| JAMES LAURINAITIS | LINEBACKERS COACH | $500,000 | $350,000 | +$150,000 | 2027 |
| BILLY FESSLER | QUARTERBACKS COACH | $475,000 | $43,900 | +$431,100 | 2027 |
Cumulatively, Ohio State’s assistant coaches will make $350,000 more than Ohio State paid its coaches in base salary a year ago.
Coupled with Ryan Day’s $12.5 million salary on his new eight-year contract that was announced in February, Ohio State will pay its coaching staff more than $24 million in 2025 – and that doesn’t even include Ohio State’s many quality control coaches, analysts and graduate assistants who are also part of the Buckeyes’ coaching efforts, as well as the rest of Ohio State’s football staff.
Ohio State director of sports performance Mickey Marotti, general manager Mark Pantoni and associate athletic director of football administration Quinn Tempel have also each received new three-year contracts following Ohio State’s national championship run. Marotti will make $1 million in 2025. Pantoni will make $900,000 – more than twice what he made last year ($351,488), with his salary set to increase to $925,000 in 2026 and $975,000 in 2027. Tempel will be paid $450,000 per year.
In addition to their base salaries, each of Ohio State’s assistant coaches and Marotti, Pantoni and Tempel will have the opportunity to earn the following bonuses based on the Buckeyes’ performance this season:
- 10% of their base salary if Ohio State makes the College Football Playoff, which increases to 20% if Ohio State makes the quarterfinals, 25% if Ohio State makes the semifinals, 30% if Ohio State makes the national championship game and 35% if Ohio State wins the national championship
- 8% of their base salary if Ohio State makes the Big Ten Championship Game, which increases to 12% if the Buckeyes win the Big Ten Championship Game
