COLUMBUS – Ohio State plans to hike Ryan Day’s annual salary to $9.5 million as part of a two-year contract extension that will put him among the nation’s highest-paid college football coaches.
The extension was one of five extensions or new contracts the Department of Athletics has recommended for Buckeye coaches, including the head coaches of the men’s and women’s basketball teams.
The recommendations will have to be approved by the university Board of Trustees on Thursday.
Day’s raise makes him the latest coach to crack $9 million per year, putting him in company with Alabama’s Nick Saban and Clemson’s Dabo Swinney and in line with recent megadeals given to Michigan State’s Mel Tucker and LSU’s Brian Kelly.
In three seasons, Day has led the Buckeyes to a 34-4 record, including 23-1 in the Big Ten.
The contract extension would keep him on the OSU sideline at least through the 2028 football season.
The deal increases Day’s total compensation from $7.6 million a year to $9.5 million with a base salary of $2 million per year.
Men’s basketball coach Chris Holtmann’s proposed three-year contract extension includes a $500,000 raise, bringing his total annual compensation to $3.5 million with a base salary of $1 million per year.
Under Holtmann, the Buckeyes have been one of only three Power 5 teams to win 20 games in each of the last five years, joining Kansas and Oregon.
Women’s coach Kevin McGuff will get a new, four-year contract with a base salary of $675,000 and an annual compensation rate of $1 million.
In his ninth year as head coach, McGuff led the Buckeyes to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament for the second time in four years
Men’s lacrosse coach Nick Myers is receiving a new five-year contract and men’s ice hockey coach Steve Rohlik is in line for a two-year extension.