Cortez Hankton will make $900,000 in his first season as Ohio State's wide receivers coach.
According to documents obtained by The Columbus Dispatch's Joey Kaufman, the new Ohio State wide receivers coach is set to make $900,000 in 2026 and $1 million in 2027.
Compared to Ohio State's 2025 assistant coach salaries, Hankton's $900,000 salary exceeds those of quarterbacks coach Billy Fessler, linebackers coach James Laurinaitis, running backs coach Carlos Locklyn, and tight ends coach Keenan Bailey. It matches last year’s salaries of safeties coach Matt Guerrieri and offensive line coach Tyler Bowen, though their salaries are set to increase to $1 million in 2026, per the terms of their contracts from last year.
| COACH | TITLE | 2025 SALARY | CONTRACT END |
|---|---|---|---|
| MATT PATRICIA | DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR | $2,500,000 | 2028 |
| BRIAN HARTLINE* | OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR/WIDE RECEIVERS COACH | $2,000,000 | 2028 |
| TIM WALTON | CO-DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR/SECONDARY COACH | $1,800,000 | 2028 |
| LARRY JOHNSON | ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH/DEFENSIVE LINE COACH | $1,400,000 | 2026 |
| TYLER BOWEN | OFFENSIVE LINE COACH/RUN GAME COORDINATOR | $900,000 | 2028 |
| MATT GUERRIERI | PASSING GAME COORDINATOR/SAFETIES COACH | $900,000 | 2028 |
| KEENAN BAILEY | CO-OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR/TIGHT ENDS COACH | $650,000 | 2027 |
| CARLOS LOCKLYN | RUNNING BACKS COACH | $650,000 | 2027 |
| JAMES LAURINAITIS | LINEBACKERS COACH | $500,000 | 2027 |
| BILLY FESSLER | QUARTERBACKS COACH | $475,000 | 2027 |
| *HARTLINE IS NOW USF'S HEAD COACH AND IS SET TO MAKE $3.5 MILLION ANNUALLY | |||
Hankton signed a two-year contract on Jan. 1 to replace Brian Hartline, who is now USF's head coach and is set to make $3.5 million annually. Hartline made $2 million as Ohio State’s offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach last season. Ohio State has not yet announced Hartline’s replacement as offensive coordinator.
Like the rest of Ohio State’s assistant coaches, the 44-year-old Hankton is eligible for the following performance bonuses:
- 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
According to USA TODAY's salary database, Hankton made $1 million at LSU in 2025 as the Tigers' wide receivers coach and co-offensive coordinator.
