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College Football coaching salaries 2017: Worth it, not worth it

By Nathaniel Reeves

TUSCALOOSA, AL - OCTOBER 14: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts during the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 14, 2017 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, AL - OCTOBER 14: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts during the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 14, 2017 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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SOUTH BEND, IN – OCTOBER 28: Head coach Brian Kelly of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish reacts in the fourth quarter against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Notre Dame Stadium on October 28, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN – OCTOBER 28: Head coach Brian Kelly of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish reacts in the fourth quarter against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Notre Dame Stadium on October 28, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Worth it: Brian Kelly 

After coming close to hot seat status at the end of last year, Kelly has made all the necessary moves to get things turned around and is looking like a bargain as the 64th-highest paid coach in America.

Kelly spent his early coaching career in the FCS ranks with Grand Valley State, leading the Lakers to six playoff appearances over 13 seasons with a pair of national championships to close out his tenure. Central Michigan finally gave Kelly his first head coaching job in 2004, and he went on to lead Cincinnati to a 34-6 record from 2006-2009 with a pair of major bowl appearances.

That led to Kelly getting one of college football’s most high-profile jobs at Notre Dame, and he’s largely been a success with a 68-33 record including an appearance in the 2012 BCS National Championship Game, helping the program recover from the Tyrone Willingham-Charlie Weis disaster. However, the Fighting Irish went 4-8 last season for their worst record in a decade, and another bowl miss could have spelled the end of his tenure.

Notre Dame has bounced back in a major way with a record of 9-3 this season, even if a loss to Stanford last week keeps them out of the New Year’s Six. Kelly did a great job replacing failed defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder with the terrific Mike Elko as part of a total staff overhaul, and has toned down his intense sideline demeanor while getting more involved with the Notre Dame players on a day-to-day basis.

The Fighting Irish will gladly take a major bowl berth for the low price of $1.6 million, although it must be noted that Notre Dame isn’t required to report his full income. Even so, Kelly’s changes are working well and he is well worth any price for Notre Dame.

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