Ed Warinner grew into one of the most coveted names on the head coaching carousel following Ohio State's improbable run at the first-ever College Football Playoff National Championship in 2014, helping orchestrate some of the best offensive seasons in school history.
It earned him a promotion under Urban Meyer from co-offensive coordinator to offensive coordinator in addition to his duties as offensive line coach after Tom Herman left to be the head coach at the University of Houston. As it turns out, he received quite bit of extra compensation, as well.
Warinner is set to make a base salary of $600,000, in his one-year term running from May 1, 2015 to April 30, 2016, up significantly from the $364,000 base salary he earned from his previous contract — a 64.8 percent bump.
| Coach | Position | Base |
|---|---|---|
| URBAN MEYER | HC | $5,800,000 |
| LUKE FICKELL | CO-DC/LB | $600,000 |
| ED WARINNER | OC/OL | $600,000 |
| CHRIS ASH | CO-DC/S | $590,000 |
| TIM BECK | CO-OC/QB | $525,000 |
| TONY ALFORD | AHC/RB | $400,000 |
| LARRY JOHNSON | AHC/DL | $400,000 |
| KERRY COOMBS | CB/ST | $300,000 |
| TIM HINTON | TE/FB | $286,004 |
| ZACH SMITH | WR | $170,035 |
Warinner's $600,000 base salary matches the same figure as Ohio State co-defensive coordinator Luke Fickell's salary in 2014. The two now are tied as the highest paid assistant coaches on Meyer's staff, as far as it pertains to base salary.
The figures are a result of an open records request submitted May 18 by Eleven Warriors and filled Monday by Ohio State. Warinner signed the contract July 31, the record shows, but Ohio State Vice President and Director of Athletics Gene Smith didn't sign the agreement until Thursday. Senior Vice President for Business and Finance and CFO Geoffrey Chatas signed it Friday.
Warinner's old contract expired April 30, which means he worked in his new position under Meyer for three months without a written one in place. Ohio State did not immediately respond to request for comment on the gap in the signed and agreed upon compensation period.
Warinner is set to earn an 8.5 percent salary bonus if Ohio State wins a Big Ten East division title in 2015, a 4.25 percent salary bonus for taking home a Big Ten Championship and an additional 8.5 percent salary bonus if the Buckeyes make the College Football Playoff. An at least nine-game season that ends in a non-College Football Playoff bowl game results in a 4.25 percent salary bonus.
If the Buckeyes make the College Football Playoff (but not the finals), Warinner is entitled to a 21.25 percent salary bonus. A semifinal win does not merit him an additional bonus on top of the 21.25 percent, but instead a 25.5 percent reward off his base salary.
All bonuses are to be provided by the university within 60 days of the conclusion of each game, bowl or College Football Playoff affair, according to the contract.
Warinner also receives a $600 per month car allowance, six football season tickets and a pair of men's basketball season tickets under his new deal.
The new contract also states explicitly that Warinner cannot "under any circumstances, discuss or negotiate directly or indirectly his prospective employment with any other institution of higher learning except between the final day of the regular football season and Jan. 15 of each year."
Ohio State averaged 511.6 and 511.9 total yards of offense per game in the last two seasons, respectively, both in the top-10 best in the country. It also averaged 265.8 rushing yards per game in 2014 and an astounding 308.6 rushing yards per game in 2013, so Warinner's promotion and subsequent raise seems wholly merited.
Ohio State hosts Northern Illinois Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
