Ohio State is making Urban Meyer the highest-paid coach in the Big Ten and third overall in college football and he’s still a big bargain for the Buckeyes.
In an era in college football when coaching salaries are sky-rocketing, as shown by Jimbo Fisher getting $75 million guaranteed to coach Texas A&M, Ohio State has an absolute steal with Urban Meyer.
Entering his seventh year in Columbus, Meyer is finalizing the details of a two-year extension that was reported by ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg that will lock him up through the 2022 season. The terms of the deal that will pay Meyer $7.8 million in 2018 makes him the highest-paid coach in the Big Ten after Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh previously held that distinction. Oddly enough since it’s Meyer who owns Harbaugh.
The new deal makes Meyer the third highest-paid coach in college football behind Alabama’s Nick Saban and Clemson’s Dabo Swinney. This makes sense considering they are the last three coaches to win the national championship.
Meyer is getting a raise of $1.2 million for 2018, but Ohio State could pay Meyer $10 million and he still represents a massive bargain for the blue blood football powerhouse.
Through six years, Meyer has only lost three Big Ten games in 50 contests. Overall, Meyer is 73-8 and won the National Championship Game in 2014 and has finished 3,12, 1, 4, 6 and 5 in the final AP Poll the last six years.
As long as Meyer is patrolling the sidelines at Ohio Stadium and serving as one of the two best closers in recruiting (Saban) the Buckeyes are going to be perennial College Football Playoff contenders.
That’s a number that you can’t put a price on.
Meyer begins his seventh season at Ohio State, the longest he’s spent any time in his Hall of Fame coaching career. He’ll turn 54 on July 10 and after a brief retirement in 2011, Meyer looks energized and better than ever. With Meyer locked up for five more seasons, there is a strong chance Ohio State will win another National Championship or two, or three.
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When you consider all the revenue that will be generated from that, paying Meyer $7.8 million is an absolute steal.
As Meyer continues to add to his list of achievements and accolades, he’ll be doing them all for Ohio State as he continues to be the face of the program, and frankly, the university.