Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia’s new deal makes him highest-paid assistant in college football

Matt Patricia’s new deal makes him the highest-paid assistant coach in college football.

The Ohio State defensive coordinator and former NFL head coach signed a three-year extension with the Buckeyes in February. According to details of Patricia’s new contract obtained by Cleveland.com, Patricia is set to make $3.75 million in 2026 and receive a $100,000 raise ahead of the 2027 season.

Patricia is entering his second season as Ohio State’s defensive coordinator. He replaced Jim Knowles after Knowles left for Penn State following the Buckeyes’ national title in January of 2025. When he moved back to his home state, Knowles became the highest-paid assistant coach in 2025 with a salary of just over $3 million.

Knowles spent just one season at Penn State as James Franklin was fired midway through the season. He is now the defensive coordinator at Tennessee.

Ohio State lost to Miami in the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff at the end of the 2025 season to finish 12-2. The Buckeyes’ defense allowed the fewest points per game in college football at 9.3 and opposing offenses gained just 219 yards a game and four yards per play.

Patricia is not the only former NFL head coach who is on Ryan Day’s staff in 2026, either. With Brian Hartline’s departure to become the head coach at South Florida, Day hired former Falcons coach Arthur Smith to run the offense. Smith is set to make $1.5 million this upcoming season and $2 million in 2027. Smith spent the 2025 season as the offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but left the team after longtime coach Mike Tomlin parted ways with the franchise.

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