Vanderbilt Commodores head coach Clark Lea’s monetary terms have drawn attention like a crying baby. In his fourth season, he’ll lead the Commodores through a tough SEC schedule.

What’s most intriguing is how Lea’s salary compares within the conference—his compensation is “modest” compared to powerhouse programs. In 2023, Lea led Vanderbilt to a 5-7 record, falling just one win short of Bowl eligibility. That was a big step up from his rough first year, where the team went 2-10. Thus, Vanderbilt extended Lea’s contract last year, even though the season ended with another tough 2-10 record again.

According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Lea signed a three-year extension, locking him in through the 2029 season. In 2024, his salary saw a boost, reportedly reaching more than $3 million annually, thanks to that 2023 contract extension. And according to ESPN, Lea’s contract is likely to be in the $3.75 million range.

Now, this deal shows Vanderbilt’s dedication to keeping Lea on board for the long haul. It’s no wonder people are taking notice. Besides his base salary, Lea’s contract also includes several performance-based incentives that could further increase his earnings if the team reaches its goals.

But it’s not like Vanderbilt is going around giving freebies like a happy Santa Claus on Christmas. With great bags shall come more W’s as well. Those who haven’t missed today’s impressive 40-35 win over the mighty Crimson Tide would know exactly why he gets what he gets. The historic win made them 3-2 overall. These bonuses potentially add hundreds of thousands of dollars to his income, and with on-field performances like these, you have got to give the man his dollars. Although the exact amounts for each incentive are yet to be revealed.

Still, a lot of big sharks in the ocean, and Lea isn’t at the top of the food chain!

Where does Clark Lea’s contract fall in the pecking order?

While Clark Lea is well-compensated, coaches like Kirby Smart, Steve Sarkisian, and Dabo Swinney earn substantially more in CFB. Well, Smart is the top dawg as he is the highest-paid college football coach after Georgia recently approved to pay him $13 million a season. He was already ahead of the curve, making over $10 million, with an increase to $11 million set for 2025 before the announcement. But Georgia rewarded the coach early after posting a 94-16 record in nine seasons and back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022.

Newcomer to the SEC, Texas Longhorns, reportedly spoiled Steve Sarkisian with $10.6 million, putting him fourth on the list of the highest-earning coaches in CFB. The Longhorns have signed a contract extension with him that will keep him with the team until the 2030 season, and as part of the deal, he will receive a substantial 47% increase in his salary starting in 2023.

Could Clark Lea’s recent success against Alabama propel him to the ranks of the highest-paid coaches like Sarkisian and Smart in the league? Why don’t you let us know in the comments?