Ohio State released its updated coaching contacts for the 2024 season, including a $2 million price tag for new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly.
According to contracts The Athletic obtained through public records requests, the former UCLA head coach has a contract running through Jan. 31, 2027, and will be paid $2 million for his first year, $2.1 million in his second year and $2.2 million in his third year.
That makes Kelly the second-highest-paid assistant on Ohio State’s staff. Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles earned a raise and is now making $2.2 million after helping the Buckeyes finish third nationally in total defense.
Kelly made just under $6 million as the Bruins’ head coach last year, per USA Today’s salary database, but he left UCLA to become Ryan Day’s offensive coordinator when Bill O’Brien was hired to be Boston College’s head coach.
Day made major changes to his coaching staff this offseason, which included raises for a few coaches, as well. Here’s a look at the new assistants and raises, which have pushed Ohio State’s assistant salary pool to $11.4 million, up from $9.3 million last year:
• New safeties coach Matt Guerrieri has a two-year contract, expiring on Jan. 31, 2026, with a base salary of $425,000. Former safeties coach Perry Eliano was making $515,000.
• Linebackers coach James Laurinaitis is also on a two-year contract through Jan. 31, 2026, and is making $350,000 per year.
• Running backs coach Carlos Locklyn, who just joined the staff from Oregon, has a two-year deal with a base salary of $650,000. That is lower than the $772,000 former running backs coach Tony Alford made last season.
• Cornerbacks coach Tim Walton received a raise after leading the nation’s top-ranked pass defense. He received a $400,000 raise and is now making $1.4 million. His updated contract states that he will receive a $100,000 raise each of the next two years, as well.
• Defensive line coach Larry Johnson received a new contract, set to expire on Jan. 31, 2026, and will make $1.4 million, up from the $1.16 million he made last season.