Louisville football‘s Ron English said he doesn’t pay attention to social media.
Not during the season, at least.
A flurry of negativity awaited Louisville’s defensive coordinator after the Cardinals’ 41-14 regular season-ending Governor’s Cup victory over Kentucky. U of L’s defense struggled early in the season, which drew criticism from fans. Many called for English’s firing.
But he remains on staff and is the team’s highest-paid assistant coach, according to the USA TODAY assistant football coach salary database that was released Wednesday. English is making $800,000 a year, which ranks 25th among ACC assistant coaches and 132nd nationally.
Florida State defensive coordinator Adam Fuller was the highest-paid assistant in the conference, coming in at sixth in the country with $2 million per year before being fired last month. LSU DC Blake Baker makes a nation-best $2.5 million per year.
But neither of the three schools’ defenses finished among the top 50. The Tigers’ defense was 52nd, allowing 352.5 yards per game, and U of L’s defense gave up 360.1 yards per outing, which ranked 59th. The Cardinals’ scoring defense ranked 52nd, tied with Air Force, giving up 23.3 points per game.
Nine of Louisville’s assistant coaches received contract extensions through 2026 and/or raises after the 2023 season ended, bringing the salary pool to $4.765 million, split among 10 coaches. It ranks 39th nationally and seventh in the ACC. That’s not including strength and conditioning coach Domenic Reno’s $326,000 annual salary, which is seventh most among the league’s S&C coaches. English received the largest raise of $100,000, which took effect Feb. 1, and a one-year contract extension through 2026.
Tight ends/special teams coach Ryan Wallace’s salary increased to $265,000, previously $250,000. His contract is set to end Jan. 21. Defensive line coach Mark Hagen is the only coach who didn’t get a raise or extension — his original contract is set to expire Jan. 31, 2026. But he’s still the staff’s third-highest-paid assistant coach, making $700,000.
Because his previous contract under former head coach Scott Satterfield was still in effect last year, linebackers coach Mark Ivey received a two-year contract extension and a pay raise to $400,000 after making $390,000. Special teams coordinator Karl Maslowski, who was bumped up to $275,000, initially signed his contract through December. He signed off on an extension through Jan. 31. Cornerbacks coach Steve Ellis rounds out the defensive staff with an annual salary of $325,000.
Louisville offensive coordinator Brian Brohm led the squad to a top-20 finish in passing offense and makes $750,000 a year. It’s 142nd among college football assistants and 27th in the ACC. The Cards’ offense also ranked 11th in total offense (455.8 ypg), 13th in scoring (36.6 ppg) and 40th in rushing offense (183.3 ypg).
Brohm also coached quarterback Tyler Shough to a 14th-place finish among FBS quarterbacks with 3,195 passing yards on the year. Shough ranked 15th in passing yards per game (266.3), a five-way tie for 22nd in passing touchdown (23) and 26th in yards per completion (13.1).
Arguably the most consistently successful unit on the team belonged to running backs coach Chris Barclay, the fourth-lowest-paid coach on the team at $375,000. The Male High School graduate followed up having two backs selected in the NFL draft with coaching the program’s first freshman 1,000-yard rusher in Isaac Brown. The former three-star prospect is also the school’s first player to be named ACC Rookie of the Year and Offensive Rookie of the Year in the same season. Brown and fellow freshman running back Duke Watson averaged 7.3 and 9 rushing yards per carry, respectively, which ranks top three in the country, according to the NCAA’s FBS statistics database.
Barclay and offensive line coach Richard Owens, who also is making $375,000, are set to receive a $25,000 increase on Feb. 1.
Receivers coach Garrick McGee, who helped Ja’Corey Brooks become the program’s eighth different player to reach 1,000 receiving yards, is making $75,000 more per year for a current base salary of $500,000. The pay increase during his second year of employment was included in his original contract.
Reach Louisville football, women’s basketball and baseball beat writer Alexis Cubit at acubit@gannett.com and follow her on X at @Alexis_Cubit.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville football assistants’ salaries: USA TODAY Sports database
