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.
Tony Vitello of Tennessee sits atop the list as the highest-paid college baseball coach. He signed a contract extension in 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 $550K 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.
Coming in third is Kevin O’Sullivan of Florida earning $1.84 million. The long-time coach of the Gators 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 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.
UNC’s Scott Forbes earns $1.7 million to land him third on the list. Forbes signed a five-year extension in May of 2023, as the school rewarded him for his 101-66 record since taking over in 2020.
The extension includes incentives for some milestones including making the Super Regional and the College World Series.
Fourth on the list is Mike Bianco. Ole Miss will pay Bianco $1.625 million this year to lead the Rebels. Bianco is the winningest coach in school history and has led them to their only national championship in 2022.
Closing out the top five highest-paid college baseball coaches is Tim Tadlock, who coaches the Texas Tech Red Raiders for an annual salary of $1.78 million. He signed a seven-year rolling deal in 2021 worth $8.93 million.
Part of the deal agrees that Tadlock will remain one of the top five highest-paid college baseball coaches.
All twelve highest-paid college baseball coaches earn over $1.1 million per year.
The SEC dominates the top 25 highest-paid coaches with ten 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 highest-paid college baseball coaches of 2024. The list was compiled using data from USA Today, The Tennessean, 24/7 Sports, and ESPN.
- Updated: December 6, 2024
| 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 | Jay Johnson | LSU | $1.79 million |
| 5 | Tim Tadlock | Texas Tech | $1.78 million |
| 6 | Scott Forbes | North Carolina | $1.7 million |
| 7 | Mike Bianco | Ole Miss | $1.63 million |
| 8 | Brian O’Connor | Virginia | $1.4 million |
| 9 | Paul Mainieri | South Carolina | $1.3 million |
| T-10 | Chris Lemonis | Mississippi State | $1.28 million |
| T-10 | Erik Bakich | Clemson | $1.28 million |
| 12 | Dave Van Horn | Arkansas | $1.25 million |
| 13 | Dan McDonnell | Louisville | $1.10 million |
| 14 | Jim Schlossnagle | Texas | $1 million |
| 15 | Nick Mingione | Kentucky | $775,000 |
| 16 | Mark Wasikowski | Oregon | $680,000 |
| T-17 | Josh Holliday | Oklahoma State | $600,000 |
| T-17 | Cliff Godwin | East Carolina | $600,000 |
| T-17 | Mitch Canham | Oregon State | $600,000 |
| 20 | Chip Hale | Arizona | $515,000 |
| 21 | Elliot Avent | NC State | $434,833 |
| 22 | Matt Deggs | Louisiana | $350,000 |
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