SEC distributes $741 million to member schools; Here’s how it breaks down

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey on Thursday announced revenue distribution of $741 million to the conference’s 14 universities for the 2022-23 fiscal year.

“SEC member universities are proud to support thousands of student-athletes who participate in broad-based athletics programs across the league,” a statement from Sankey read. “SEC universities are committed to providing a high-level experience for all of our participants through an impactful and life-changing college experience that includes world-class support in coaching, training, academic counseling, medical care, mental health support, nutrition, life-skills development and post-eligibility healthcare coverage for student-athletes.

Here’s how the money breaks down:

• $718 million overall distributed from the SEC office
• Additional $23 million retained by individual schools, which participated in 2022-23 football bowl games.
• $51.3 million distributed to each school, excluding bowl expenses retained by participants.

Auburn receives $50 million payout in SEC distribution for 2023 fiscal year.

The distribution amount is comprised of revenue generated from television agreements, post-season bowl games, the College Football Playoff, the SEC Football Championship Game, the SEC men’s basketball tournament, and NCAA championships.

RELATED: A look back at the SEC’s distribution over the years

In the release, it is noted that the distribution does not include an additional $8.1 million of NCAA and SEC grants divided among the 14 member universities.

The revenue is an increase from the $721.8 million distributed in 2021-22. The average-per-school distribution increased from $49.9 million in 2021-22, not including bowl money retained by participants.

 

Report: Alabama football’s Tommy Rees and Kevin Steele highest-paid coordinator duo

Alabama football has the highest-paid tandem of offensive and defensive coordinators in college football.

According to a USA Today database of assistant coach salaries, Tommy Rees and Kevin Steele are tied for fifth at $1.9 million annually. Matching them in total pay are Oklahoma’s Jeff Lebby, LSU’s Matt House and former UA coach Pete Golding, now at Ole Miss. Clemson offensive coordinator Garrett Riley is the highest-paid assistant, earning $2.05 million.

Alabama had four assistants in the top 100. Offensive line coach Eric Wolford ranked 71st overall at $925,000. Wide reciever coach Holmon Wiggins was 82nd at $875,000.

Other reported salaries included: secondary coach Travaris Robinson, $800,000 (115th); defensive line coach Freddie Roach, $775,000 (120th); running backs coach Robert Gillespie, $625,000 (177th); special teams coordinator, outside linebackers coach Coleman Hutzler, $595,000 (204th); tight ends coach Joe Cox ($425,000); inside linebackers coach Robert Bala, $350,000 (441st).

In total, Alabama pays its assistants $9.17 million. That is third nationally behind Georgia’s $9.23 million and Ohio State’s $9,323,490. In October, it was confirmed that Saban’s yearly compensation of $11.4 million was the highest among head coaches.

The database didn’t include the contracts of coaches at Notre Dame, Miami and Southern California among others immune from the public records requests filed by USA Today.

Alabama’s two new head assistants, Rees and Steele, have grown into their roles well this season. Through 10 games, the Crimson Tide is ranked 64th in total offense and 23rd in total offense. Since losing against Texas, Alabama has a plus-80 points differential in the second halves of games.

Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe has repeatedly credited Rees with their “constantly growing” relationship. Milroe has supercharged UA’s offense with 10 touchdowns in his last two games. Saban rarely gives public evaluations of his coordinators but gave credit to Steele for picking up some of the yelling duties against LSU.

“We all contribute to trying to make adjustments in the games. Kevin’s done a really good job. He’s in the box, so he has a really good perspective of what we didn’t do correctly, what we need to fix,” said Saban on Nov. 6. “What’s not working, what might work better.”

Robinson was promoted in the offseason from cornerbacks coach. Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin thought Robinson was doing such a good job he publically speculated that play-calling duties shifted from Robinson to Steele. They didn’t, with UA later clarifying that Robinson helps signal plays in that Steele relays from the booth.