SEC coaches get shown the money

Money talks, especially if you're a football coach in the Southeastern Conference.

Florida's Urban Meyer has guided the Gators to two of the last three BCS national championships, yet he is only the third highest-paid SEC coach, behind LSU's Les Miles and Alabama's Nick Saban, who make at least $3.8 million a year.

Don't feel too sorry for Meyer, though - he still earns at least $3.4 million.

In The Tampa Tribune's annual look at college coaching salaries, the SEC is SECond to none. The SEC has the top salary average for all of the 10 full-time coaching positions, with the exception of offensive coordinator.

The ACC gets the nod as the highest-paying conference among offensive coordinators, thanks to Florida State's Jimbo Fisher earning a hefty $630,375 salary as FSU's offensive coordinator/head coach-in-waiting.

Although FSU's Bobby Bowden makes about $1 million a year less than Meyer, Bowden is still the ACC's highest-paid head coach. Also, FSU has the distinction of being the nation's only school with four assistants - Fisher, defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews, linebackers coach Chuck Amato and offensive line coach Rick Trickett - making more than $300,000.

At USF, Coach Jim Leavitt has nearly tripled his salary the past four years, from $542,000 in 2005 to $1.5 million in 2008. Leavitt will receive $1.6 million this fall.

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Head coach

BCS high: $3.8 million

SEC average: $2.322 million

ACC average: $1.518 million

Big East average: $1.373 million

BCS low: $345,000

Offensive coordinator

BCS high: $630,375

ACC average: $318,680

SEC average: $296,745

Big East average: $213,512

BCS low: $150,000

Defensive coordinator

BCS high: $441,000

SEC average $309,187

ACC average: $302,273

Big East average: $222,583

BCS low: $150,000

Highest-paid assistant

BCS high: $460,260

SEC average: $243,562

ACC average: $230,618

Big East average: $189,663

BCS low: $110,000

No. 2-paid assistant

BCS high: $349,500

SEC average: $217,433

ACC average: $199,401

Big East average: $169,228

BCS low: $105,000

No. 3-paid assistant

BCS high: $284,400

SEC average: $198,586

ACC average: $172,925

Big East average: $164,225

BCS low: $100,000

No. 4-paid assistant

BCS high: $274,682

SEC average: $187,602

ACC average: $159,978

Big East average: $159,797

BCS low: $90,000

No. 5-paid assistant

BCS high: $249,740

SEC average: $173,846

ACC average: $156,441

Big East average: $151,840

BCS low: $90,000

No. 6-paid assistant

BCS high: $248,060

SEC average: $165,602

ACC average: $152,991

Big East average: 145,246

BCS low: $80,000

No. 7-paid assistant

BCS high: $213,931

SEC average: $152,722

ACC average: $145,472

Big East average: $121,548

BCW low: $70,000

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University of Florida

Head coach Urban Meyer: $3.4 million

Offensive coordinator Dan Mullen: $280,000 (2008 pay; Mullen is no longer with the school)

Defensive coordinator Charlie Strong: $300,000

No. 1 assistant Dan McCarney, defensive line: $290,000

No. 2 assistant Chuck Heater, safeties: $205,000

No. 3 assistant Steve Addazio, offensive line: $200,000

No. 4 assistant Billy Gonzales, wide receivers: $180,000

No. 5 assistant Kenny Carter, running backs: $170,000

No. 6 assistant Vance Bedford, cornerbacks: $170,000

No. 7 assistant John Hevesy, tight ends: $150,000 (2008 pay; Hevesy is no longer with the school)

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Florida State

Head coach Bobby Bowden: $2.435 million

Offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher: $630,375

Defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews: $315,105

No. 1 assistant Chuck Amato, linebackers: $305,000

No. 2 assistant Rick Trickett, offensive line: $300,000

No. 3 assistant Odell Haggins, defensive line: $200,000

No. 4 assistant James Coley, tight ends: $190,000

No. 5 assistant Jody Allen, defensive ends: $140,000

No. 6 assistant Lawrence Dawsey, wide receivers: $135,000

No. 7 assistant Dexter Carter, running backs: $130,000