Luke Fickell remains the highest-paid assistant on Urban Meyer's Ohio State football staff.
According to his latest contract, the program's defensive coordinator and linebackers coach is slated to earn $750,000 in base salary for the 2016 season. That figure is up from the $640,000 base total Fickell earned in 2015 and a result of an open record request filed by Eleven Warriors May 3 and filled Friday afternoon. Fickell's latest contract is for just the 2016 season and expires April 30, 2017.
| COACH | TOTAL ANNUAL SALARY |
|---|---|
| Luke Fickell | $750,000 |
| Ed Warinner | $650,000 |
| Greg Schiano | $600,000 |
| Tim Beck | $525,000 |
| Larry Johnson | $420,000 |
| Tony Alford | $400,000 |
| Kerry Coombs | $350,450 |
| Tim Hinton | $286,500 |
| Zach Smith | $220,000 |
Fickell's unit finished second in the Big Ten last season in scoring defense, allowing just 15.1 points per game. The group allowed 311.3 yards per game, third-best in the conference. Ohio State's defense also lost nine starters, six of which became NFL Draft picks.
Fickell signed his new contract Sept. 6. His old deal expired April 30 which means he worked under a verbal agreement for more than four months. That is not uncommon as the Ohio State University Board of Trustees must review and approve the proposed terms.
Fickell is set to earn an 8.5 percent salary bump if Ohio State wins a Big Ten East division title in 2016, a 4.25 percent salary bonus for taking home a Big Ten Championship and an additional 17 percent salary bonus if the Buckeyes make the College Football Playoff. An at least nine-win season that ends in a non-College Football Playoff bowl game results in a 4.25 percent salary bonus.
Fickell's new deal also warrants him a 21.25 percent bonus if the Buckeyes make the College Football Playoff, but not the finals. If Ohio State makes it to the national championship game at Houston in January, he instead earns a 25.5 percent bonus instead of the 21.25 percent reward.
Any bonus earned by Fickell is 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.
And, just like Warinner, Fickell is allotted a $600 per month car allowance, six football season tickets and two men's basketball season tickets under his new contract.
No. 2 Ohio State (3-0) hosts Rutgers Saturday at noon.
Fickell, Luke 2016-2017 Contract by elevenwarriors on Scribd
