Both of Ohio State’s coordinators will make at least $2 million in 2024.
Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles will make $2.2 million after receiving a new three-year contract this offseason while new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly will make $2 million in his first year with the Buckeyes.
Knowles and Kelly’s salaries lead five Ohio State assistant coaches making seven figures for 2024 as co-offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach Brian Hartline will make $1.6 million – the same salary as last year – while defensive line coach Larry Johnson and secondary coach Tim Walton have both received raises to $1.4 million.
New running backs coach Carlos Locklyn will make $650,000 in 2024 while new safeties coach Matt Guerrieri will make $425,000 and new linebackers coach James Laurinaitis will make $350,000 in his first full-time coaching job. Tight ends coach Keenan Bailey will make $400,000, the same salary as last year.
Offensive line coach Justin Frye’s salary was bumped up to $1 million in 2023. While the contract distributed by Ohio State on Friday listed his original base salary of $800,000, an Ohio State spokesperson said Frye’s salary will remain at $1 million for 2024. Frye is the only returning assistant whose contract has not been extended beyond this season.
| COACH | TITLE | 2023 SALARY | 2024 SALARY | CHANGE | CONTRACT END |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHIP KELLY | OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR/QUARTERBACKS COACH | $6,100,000 (@ UCLA) | $2,000,000 | -$4,100,000 | 2027 |
| JIM KNOWLES | DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR | $1,957,000 | $2,200,000 | +$243,000 | 2027 |
| KEENAN BAILEY | TIGHT ENDS COACH | $400,000 | $400,000 | $0 | 2026 |
| JUSTIN FRYE | RUN GAME COORDINATOR/OFFENSIVE LINE COACH | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $0 | 2025 |
| MATT GUERRIERI | SAFETIES COACH | $400,000 (@ INDIANA) | $425,000 | +$25,000 | 2026 |
| BRIAN HARTLINE | CO-OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR/WIDE RECEIVERS COACH | $1,600,000 | $1,600,000 | $0 | 2026 |
| LARRY JOHNSON | ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH/DEFENSIVE LINE COACH | $1,166,990 | $1,400,000 | +$233,010 | 2026 |
| JAMES LAURINAITIS | LINEBACKERS COACH | $200,000 | $350,000 | +$150,000 | 2026 |
| CARLOS LOCKLYN | RUNNING BACKS COACH | $400,000 (@ OREGON) | $650,000 | +$250,000 | 2026 |
| TIM WALTON | ASSISTANT HEAD COACH/SECONDARY/CORNERBACKS COACH | $1,000,000 | $1,400,000 | +$400,000 | 2027 |
Kelly and Walton are both on escalating three-year contracts that will pay them more in each subsequent season. Kelly is set to make $2.1 million in 2025 and $2.2 million in 2026, while Walton will make $1.5 million in 2025 and $1.6 million in 2026.
Kelly will make $200,000 more each year than Bill O’Brien was set to make as offensive coordinator. O’Brien signed a contract that would have paid him $1.8 million this year, $1.9 million next year and $2 million in 2026 before he left to become the head coach at Boston College.
Among Ohio State’s support staff, director of sports performance Mickey Marotti leads the way in salary as he is set to make $862,238 on a contract that ends in 2026. General manager of player personnel Mark Pantoni will make $351,488 this year on a one-year contract. Chief of staff Quinn Tempel will make $273,000 this year while general manager of football operations Brian Voltolini will make $266,109.
All contracted staff members are also eligible for the following bonuses:
- 8% base salary if Ohio State makes the Big Ten Championship Game, which becomes 12% if OSU wins the Big Ten Championship Game
- 10% if Ohio State makes the College Football Playoff, which becomes 20% if OSU makes the quarterfinals, 25% if OSU makes the semifinals, 30% if OSU makes the final and 35% if OSU wins the national championship
