Motlow State Community College ranked 39th among Tennessee post-secondary institutions for coach salaries in 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
At that time, the college paid coaches an average salary of $27,565, with the top salary reaching $30,707.
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville offered the highest average coaching salary in Tennessee in 2024, at $1.2 million.
In 2024, the average salary for post-secondary coaches in Tennessee 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.
