We knew Kevin Wilson had to take a pay cut to become Ohio State's offensive coordinator and tight ends coach after resigning from his post as Indiana head coach. But the salary of the biggest piece in Urban Meyer's new offensive brain trust remains in six figures.
| Coach | Position | Base |
|---|---|---|
| URBAN MEYER | HC | $6,003,000 |
| GREG SCHIANO | DC/SAF | $700,000 |
| KEVIN WILSON | OC/TE | $650,000 |
| BILL DAVIS | LB | $500,000 |
| KERRY COOMBS | CB/ST | $500,000 |
| LARRY JOHNSON | AHC/DL | $479,000 |
| TONY ALFORD | AHC/RB | $450,000 |
| RYAN DAY | QB | $400,000 |
| GREG STUDRAWA | OL | $400,000 |
| ZACH SMITH | WR | $300,000 |
Wilson is set to earn $650,000 in base salary while working for the Buckeyes in 2017, according to his preliminary contract obtained by Eleven Warriors on Wednesday. According to the contract, Wilson is in line for a $100,000 raise in 2018 as part of the two-year deal he signed on May 8.
He made $2.32 million in 2016 at Indiana before stepping down on Dec. 1, according to the USA Today's coaches database.
The figure is a result of an open record request through Ohio State. The request was filed on Jan. 11, a day after the University officially announced Wilson's hire in place of Ed Warinner, who departed for Minnesota.
Wilson's base salary for the 2017 season ranks second among Ohio State assistants behind defensive coordinator Greg Schiano, who is set to earn $700,000 in base salary.
Warinner made a base salary of $650,000 in 2016 as Ohio State's offensive coordinator and tight ends coach. The Buckeyes led the Big Ten in total offense at 459.2 yards per game and narrowly finished second in scoring offense at 39.4 points per game. Michigan led the conference with 40.3 points per game.
Urban Meyer brought Wilson to Columbus with the hope he brings more balance, explosion and tempo to the offense. Those things were noticeably absent the last two seasons and violently came to a head in the Fiesta Bowl debacle against eventual national champion Clemson, where the Buckeyes failed to score a point and managed only nine first downs.
Wilson's contract is set to expire on Jan. 31, 2019. He tendered his resignation at Indiana just one season into the 6-year deal he signed in January 2016 worth $15 million.
Wilson is one of three new assistants on Meyer's staff. The Buckeyes also hired Ryan Day to coach quarterbacks after Tim Beck left for Texas and Meyer promoted Billy Davis from defensive quality control to linebackers coach in place of Luke Fickell. Fickell is now the head coach at the University of Cincinnati.
Like the other members of Meyer's coaching staff, Wilson is in line for additional paydays if the Buckeyes reach certain postseason benchmarks. Those are listed below, plus other perks as listed in his contract:
- An 8.5 percent base salary supplemental compensation for winning the Big Ten East Division at the coach's then-current rate.
- A 4.25 percent base salary supplemental compensation for winning the Big Ten Championship at the coach's then-current rate.
- Participation in a College Football Playoff postseason game: 17 percent base salary additional compensation at the coach's then-current rate.
- Participation in non-College Football Playoff postseason game and 9-win season: 4.25 percent of base salary bonus at the coach's then-current rate.
- Participation in semifinals (but not finals) of College Football Playoff: 21.25 percent base salary additional compensation at the coach's then-current rate.
- If Ohio State wins the CFP semifinal, Wilson is not entitled to his 21.25 percent additional base salary compensation. Instead, he receives an additional 25.5 percent base salary compensation at the coach's then-current rate.
- A car loan of $600 per month.
- Six football season tickets and two men's basketball season tickets, free of charge.
Wilson, Kevin 2017-2019 SIGNED on Scribd
