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The 2024 College World Series set a new average game attendance record of 24,788.
In 2024, 371,820 fans descended on Omaha for the 16-game tournament, just missing the chance to mark a third straight year of record-breaking attendance.
There’s no shortage of money flowing into college baseball, but the most prestigious programs benefit the most and hire the best coaches to lead their programs.
Tony Vitello of Tennessee sits atop the list as the highest-paid college baseball coach. He signed a contract extension last August that will give him $3 million a year.
Vitello was rewarded for leading Tennessee to their first-ever NCAA title in 2024. He’ll earn $550,000 more than the next-highest coach on the list.
Not only that, but he earns more than six MLB managers.
Tim Corbin of Vanderbilt is second, earning $2.45 million per year as part of his deal.
Corbin has been at Vanderbilt since 2003, turning them into perennial contenders in the College World Series. He’s led them to five tournament appearances and two national titles.
Kevin O’Sullivan of Florida, who earns $1.84 million, comes in third. The long-time Gators coach signed an extension earlier this year that will keep him in the Swamp until 2033.
O’Sullivan has coached in Florida for 17 seasons and led them to eight CWS appearances.
Fourth is Tim Tadlock, who coaches the Texas Tech Red Raiders for an annual salary of $1.83 million. In 2021, he signed a seven-year rolling deal worth $8.93 million.
Part of the deal agrees that Tadlock will remain one of the top five highest-paid college baseball coaches.
Closing out the top five highest-paid college baseball coaches is Jay Johnson of LSU, who is set to make $1.79 million this year at the helm of Tigers baseball.
He led them to their seventh national title in school history in 2023, just his second year in the program.
Fourteen of the highest-paid college baseball coaches earn over $1.1 million per year.
The SEC dominates the top 25 highest-paid coaches, with 13 making the list. The ACC is the second-most represented conference with five.
Ranking The Highest-Paid College Baseball Coaches
Here is the entire list of 2025’s highest-paid college baseball coaches. The list was compiled using data from The Tennessean, Lubbock Online, 24/7 Sports, and ESPN.
- Updated: March 24, 2025
| Rank | Coach | Team | Total Compensation |
| 1 | Tony Vitello | Tennessee | $3 million |
| 2 | Tim Corbin | Vanderbilt | $2.45 million |
| 3 | Kevin O’Sullivan | Florida | $1.84 million |
| 4 | Tim Tadlock | Texas Tech | $1.83 million |
| 5 | Jay Johnson | LSU | $1.79 million |
| 6 | Scott Forbes | North Carolina | $1.7 million |
| 7 | Mike Bianco | Ole Miss | $1.63 million |
| T-8 | Brian O’Connor | Virginia | $1.4 million |
| T-8 | Dave Van Horn | Arkansas | $1.4 million |
| 10 | Dan McDonnell | Louisville | $1.35 million |
| T-11 | Chris Lemonis | Mississippi State | $1.33 million |
| T-11 | Erik Bakich | Clemson | $1.33 million |
| 13 | Butch Thompson | Auburn | $1.28 million |
| 14 | Paul Mainieri | South Carolina | $1.3 million |
| 15 | Jim Schlossnagle | Texas | $1 million |
| 16 | Rob Vaughn | Alabama | $900,000 |
| 17 | Nick Mingione | Kentucky | $875,000 |
| 18 | Josh Holliday | Oklahoma State | $770,833 |
| 19 | Mark Wasikowski | Oregon | $700,000 |
| 20 | Wes Johnson | Georgia | $700,000 |
| 21 | Mitch Canham | Oregon State | $625,000 |
| 22 | Cliff Godwin | East Carolina | $600,000 |
| 23 | Chip Hale | Arizona | $520,000 |
| 24 | Elliott Avent | NC State | $500,000 |
| 25 | Matt Deggs | Louisiana | $350,000 |
Related lists:
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