Bill Belichick goes to UNC: Where does his salary rank among other coaches

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Bill Belichick, who became head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels, put the salaries of other college football coaches in the spotlight.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill announced Wednesday that it has hired Belichick, who coached the NFL’s New England Patriots for 24 seasons, as head coach of the Tar Heels for five years. His deal with UNC is worth $50 million over that span, Outkick reported.

While his contract is large, there are other college head coaches that bring in big money.

BILL BELICHICK AGREES TO BECOME UNC’S NEXT HEAD FOOTBALL COACH

The five head coaches with the biggest salaries in 2024 lead teams that play in three conferences — the SEC, ACC and Big 10, according to Sports Illustrated and USA Today. They collectively reportedly earned more than $55.6 million this year.

These coaches include:

Smart Kirby

ATHENS, GEORGIA – NOVEMBER 29: Head coach Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs watches the fourth quarter against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Sanford Stadium on November 29, 2024 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images/Getty Images)

Smart joined the University of Georgia football program as head coach in 2015. He is paid $13.28 million for coaching the Bulldogs this year, USA Today reported. The team notched Smart’s 100th win as head coach in October.

Dabo Swinney

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – DECEMBER 07: Head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers reacts during the first half of the 2024 ACC Football Championship at Bank of America Stadium on December 07, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo of Isaiah V (Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images / Getty Images)

Swinney’s salary to coach the Clemson Tigers is $11.13 million for 2024, according to Sports Illustrated and USA Today. The Tigers won 170 games and lost 43 under his leadership in 16 seasons, according to the team’s website.

Steve Sarkisian

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 07: Head coach Steve Sarkisian of the Texas Longhorns sings the fight song after the 22-19 overtime loss to the Georgia Bulldogs in the 2024 SEC Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 07, 2024 in Atlanta, G (Dill Butch/Getty Images / Getty Images)

The University of Texas at Austin credits Sarkisian with “resolutely returning the Texas football program to prominence.” He has nearly 11 years of head coaching experience under his belt, with this season being his fourth at the helm of the Longhorns. In 2024, he will make $10.6 million, Sports Illustrated reported.

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Lincoln Riley

COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND – OCTOBER 19: Head coach Lincoln Riley of the USC Trojans speaks to the media after the game against the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium on October 19, 2024 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) (G Fiume/Getty Images)

Riley started his head coaching position at the University of Southern California in 2022. His salary for this year would be $10.04 million. He joined the University of Oklahoma Trojans program.

Ryan Day

COLUMBUS, OHIO – NOVEMBER 23: Head coach Ryan Day of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks on before the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Ohio Stadium on November 23, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images) (Jason Mowry/Getty Images/Getty Images)

Day, the head coach of the Ohio State University Buckeyes, will make $10.02 million this year, according to Sports Illustrated and USA Today. In 2019, he became the “first Ohio State coach in 40 years to be named Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year,” Ohio State University said on its website. They are currently ranked sixth in college football.

Belichick on building UNC’s team

UNC brought in Belichick as head coach about a year after he stopped working with the New England Patriots.

Belichick said in a news conference Thursday afternoon that he will be “here to teach, develop and build a program the way I believe in” at UNC.

UNC’s record currently stands at six wins and six losses this season.

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – DECEMBER 12: Head coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels speaks to the media during a press conference on December 12, 2024 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images / Getty Images)

“I am excited to have the opportunity to train and develop young student-athletes, young men, and prepare them for their lives in the NFL or professionally, but the lessons they learn will be professional lessons” , he said. “They will be pros in all areas.”

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Belichick also explained how he would define success at UNC.

“Success is a daily process. The only thing we can really do something about is today, tomorrow, what is immediately in front of us, so take advantage of every opportunity we have to build the team, improve it, improve ourselves and keep putting together a lot of good days and the results will come,” he said.