Year-by-year salaries of UGA head football coaches since 2012

Thomas Neumann

April 7, 2022 at 6:55 AM·4 min read

College football coaching salaries have skyrocketed in recent years as the sport’s arms race has reached new heights.

Fortunately for the Georgia Bulldogs, they have one of the nation’s top coaches, Kirby Smart, who recently guided UGA to its first national championship since 1980. Smart is 66-15 in six seasons at the helm in Athens. Prior to Smart, Mark Richt guided the Bulldogs to a 145-51 record over 15 seasons.

To get an idea of how rapidly coaching salaries are rising, UGA Wire compiles the annual compensation paid out to Georgia football head coaches over the past decade below.

[Source: USA TODAY college football coaching salary database; figures do not include income from non-university sources, incentive bonuses or the value of perks and benefits.]

2012 - Mark Richt

Georgia head coach Mark Richt watches the action during a game against Florida in Jacksonville on Oct. 27, 2012. Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

Pay from university: $2,811,340

Final record: 12-2

Postseason: Lost SEC Championship Game to Alabama, 32-28

Won Capital One Bowl over Nebraska, 45-31

2013 - Mark Richt

Georgia head coach Mark Richt reacts during a game against Florida in Jacksonville on Nov. 2, 2013. Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Pay from university: $3,200,000

Final record: 8-5

Postseason: Lost Gator Bowl to Nebraska, 24-19

2014 - Mark Richt

Georgia head coach Mark Richt watches his team warm up prior to its game against Florida in Jacksonville on Nov. 1, 2014. Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Pay from university: $3,200,000

Final record: 10-3

Postseason: Won Belk Bowl over Louisville, 37-14

2015 - Mark Richt

Georgia Bulldogs head coach Mark Richt reacts to fans after the Bulldogs defeated Kentucky at Sanford Stadium on Nov. 7, 2015. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Pay from university: $4,000,000

Final record: 10-3

Postseason: Won TaxSlayer Bowl over Penn State, 24-17

2016 - Kirby Smart

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart speaks to players prior to the Bulldogs’ game against Auburn at Sanford Stadium on Nov. 12, 2016. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Pay from university: $3,753,600

Final record: 8-5

Postseason: Won Liberty Bowl over Texas Christian, 31-23

2017 - Kirby Smart

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart is interviewed by CBS reporter Allie LaForce after the Bulldogs beat Auburn in the SEC Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Dec. 2, 2017. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Pay from university: $3,753,600

Final record: 13-2

Postseason: Won SEC Championship Game over Auburn, 28-7

Won Rose Bowl (CFP semifinal) over Oklahoma, 54-48, in double overtime

Lost CFP National Championship Game to Alabama, 26-23, in overtime

2018 - Kirby Smart

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart reacts on the sideline during the SEC Championship Game against Alabama at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Dec. 1, 2018. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Pay from university: $6,603,600

Final record: 11-3

Postseason: Lost SEC Championship Game to Alabama, 35-28

Lost Sugar Bowl to Texas, 28-21

2019 - Kirby Smart

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart leads his team onto the field before a game against Georgia Tech at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta on Nov. 30, 2019. Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Pay from university: $6,703,600

Final record: 12-2

Postseason: Lost SEC Championship Game to LSU, 37-10

Won Sugar Bowl over Baylor, 26-14

2020 - Kirby Smart

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart works with his team before a game against Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on Oct. 17, 2020. Gary Cosby Jr. / The Tuscaloosa News via USA TODAY Sports

Pay from university: $6,803,600

Final record: 8-2

Postseason: Won Peach Bowl over Cincinnati, 24-21

2021 - Kirby Smart

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart celebrates after the Bulldogs beat Alabama in the 2022 CFP National Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Jan. 10, 2022. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Pay from university: $7,003,600

Final record: 14-1

Postseason: Lost SEC Championship Game to Alabama, 41-24

Won Orange Bowl (CFP semifinal) over Michigan, 34-11

Won CFP National Championship Game over Alabama, 33-18

Note: Smart ranked eighth nationally in compensation among college football head coaches for the 2021 season.

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