LSU Football: Where Ed Orgeron ranks among highest paid coaches in college sports

LSU football head coach Ed Orgeron is one of the most well-paid coaches in college sports.

Ed Orgeron received a hefty raise after leading LSU football to an undefeated 15-0 season and a national championship this past season.

In late January, Orgeron agreed to an extension with LSU worth more than $42 million over six years.

Prior to the extension, Orgeron was making around $4 million a year. The extension pushed his annual salary to $8.7 million, placing him among the highest-paid college coaches in the nation (according to a recent report from 247Sports).

So how far up the list did Orgeron climb?

Well, he’s now the third-highest paid coach in college sports, behind only Clemson’s Dabo Swinney (No. 1 at $9.3 million) and Alabama’s Nick Saban (No. 2 at $9.1 million).

Coach O’s salary ranks just in front of Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari (No. 4 at $8.1 million) and Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh (No. 5 at $8 million).

(Side note: Harbaugh receiving $8 million a year to lead Michigan to nine wins a year seems like robbery).

Is Ed Orgeron worth his salary?

Anytime you hear about big salaries in sports, the first question is usually “is this really worth it?”.

In Coach O’s case, I think the answer to that question is a resounding yes.

Not only has Orgeron energized LSU’s football program, and brought another national championship to Baton Rouge, but he’s also had an economic impact on the state.

The economic impact of the national championship game in New Orleans this past January was originally expected to be around $150-175 million.

Now, obviously New Orleans was hosting the title game regardless of what LSU accomplished in 2019.

But US News noted that the impact could actually be greater than the $150-175 million estimates because of Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow.

There’s no doubt that LSU playing in the title game made a massive impact on the local economy. So strictly from a numbers standpoint, yes, Coach O has been worth it.

(Numerous businesses in Louisiana reported an uptick in revenue because of LSU’s perfect season.)

But it’s about more than numbers.

Orgeron is one of the most recognizable people in the state of Louisiana. He’s a spokesman for whatever cause the state might need him for (like COVID-19 awareness and wearing masks to stop the spread). He’s probably more well-known than the governor at this point.

Coach O is part of the culture in Louisiana. LSU is wise to make him a well-paid man. He’s worth every penny.