Among Tennessee post-secondary institutions in 2024, the University of the South ranked 12th in average coaching salary, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
The University of the South provided an average salary of $70,489 to its coaches, with the top coaching salary at $70,873.
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville offered the highest average coaching salary in Tennessee in 2024, amounting to $1.2 million.
In 2024, the average salary for Tennessee post-secondary coaches was $125,189, marking a 2.9% increase from $121,626 the previous year.
A Knight Commission report projects that within a decade, some Power 5 football coaches will earn more than their schools spend on scholarships and medical care for all athletes. The study estimates more than $1 billion in new annual revenue from the expanded College Football Playoff and media rights deals. By 2032, nearly half of public Power 5 schools could reach this ‘crossover point.’
Incomplete data provided by post-secondary institutions can sometimes skew salary data.
| Institution | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | $1.2 million |
| Vanderbilt University | $963,803 |
| The University of Memphis | $444,166 |
| Middle Tennessee State University | $239,281 |
| Belmont University | $191,024 |
| Lipscomb University | $143,421 |
| The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga | $125,696 |
| Tennessee Technological University | $124,956 |
| Tennessee State University | $121,315 |
| Austin Peay State University | $119,036 |
Information in this story was obtained from the U.S. Department of Education. The source data can be found here.
