Here’s a paraphrased version of the article:
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN – Every year, I put together this article, and almost every time, I end up advocating for a larger assistant coaching salary pool. While the process is straightforward, it takes time—gathering head coach and assistant coach salaries from USA Today Sports and cross-referencing them with Minnesota Gopher Football’s on-field coaching staff and P.J. Fleck’s 2025 salaries obtained via a FOIA request to the university.
Analyzing this data annually is crucial to understanding how Minnesota’s spending compares to its Big Ten rivals.
According to USA Today, Minnesota allocated $4.599 million to its 10 on-field assistant coaches in 2024—a slight dip from 2023. That’s understandable, considering Joe Rossi left for a higher-paying job at Michigan State and was replaced by the more affordable Corey Hetherman.
However, Minnesota ranked last among the 15 Big Ten schools that publicly report their coaching salary data. To make matters worse, three private schools—USC, Penn State, and Northwestern—aren’t required to disclose their spending, but given what Lincoln Riley and James Franklin earn, it’s safe to assume their assistant salary pools surpass Minnesota’s.
That leaves the Gophers and Wildcats at the bottom. Compared to their main rivals, Minnesota’s assistant coaching salaries lagged by $3.03 million behind Iowa and $776,000 behind Wisconsin in 2024.
Fleck’s Salary Standing in the Big Ten
In 2024, P.J. Fleck’s $6.7 million salary placed him ninth among the 18 Big Ten head coaches, ranking 26th nationally. However, in 2025, he’ll drop further, with Indiana’s Curt Cignetti set to earn nearly $8 million, Illinois’ Bret Bielema getting a raise, and Matt Rhule’s salary increasing to $7.5 million.
While Fleck isn’t necessarily “underpaid”—the difference between the 7th- and 15th-highest salaries in the Big Ten is only about $500,000—it highlights how coaching salaries continue to rise. Notably, Minnesota did prioritize one leadership position: Athletic Director Mark Coyle, who received a contract extension in 2024 that keeps him among the top third of Big Ten ADs in pay.
A New Spending Record in 2025
The positive news? Minnesota’s assistant coaching salaries will hit a record high in 2025 at $5.505 million—an increase of nearly $1 million from the previous year.
Of course, I feel the need to acknowledge the inevitable feedback from some fans who argue that simply paying coaches more doesn’t necessarily make them better at their jobs. Fleck has often preferred internal promotions, elevating Joe Rossi from analyst to defensive coordinator and giving quality control assistants like Danny Collins and Greg Harbaugh bigger roles.
This strategy seems to strengthen the program’s culture, rewarding those who’ve put in the time. But at the same time, competitive salaries matter.
For example, offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh will earn $730,000 in 2025—the most he’s ever made—but that still ranks at or near the bottom of the Big Ten among offensive coordinators. And despite the low salary, Minnesota’s offense finished a respectable eighth in Big Ten scoring in 2024 (24.9 PPG).
The Fine Line Minnesota Walks
Minnesota’s strategy of hiring younger, less experienced assistants may align with Fleck’s energetic approach, but constantly operating in the bottom tier of spending is risky. The school is relying on Fleck’s ability to consistently make strong hires like Hetherman, Harbaugh, and Collins.
That said, it’s encouraging to see Fleck and Coyle investing more in their coaching staff than ever before. Below is a breakdown of Minnesota’s 2025 coaching salaries and contract details.
That’s a streamlined version that keeps the key points while making it more concise and engaging. Let me know if you want any tweaks!
Leave a Reply