Bobby Petrino Salary: How Much Does MSU Head Coach Make In A Year?

On Saturday, for about 50 minutes of a 60-minute game, former Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino had his Missouri State Bears in a position to pull off a historic upset.

He had led the Louisville Cardinals football team as head coach from 2014 until his dismissal in the middle of the 2018 campaign. After that, he was chosen to lead Missouri State University on January 15, 2020.

Amid this, Petrino has also led his collegiate teams to nine bowl games, including the first-ever Bowl Championship Series (BCS) bowl games for the Louisville Cardinals and the Arkansas Razorbacks, respectively.

Petrino has likely amassed a sizable fortune and a salary of millions of dollars through his incredible, decades-long coaching career.

Quick Facts:

MSU Coach Bobby Petrino Gets A Salary Of $325,000 Extended Till 2025 Season

The 61-year-old’s contract with Missouri State was extended until the 2025 season, and a new base salary of $325,000 was announced in June 2021. According to the Springfield News-Leader, his compensation increase was supported by private donations.

The extension follows Petrino’s first season as head coach, during which the MSU football team won the Missouri Valley Football Conference title and made its first FCS Playoff appearance since 1990.

Even though Petrino’s original contract, which paid him $275,000 a year, had five years left, the extension was nonetheless granted. After the postseason, Petrino was automatically given a one-year extension and a $25,000 raise.

The coaching staff under Petrino reportedly received raises as well, with offensive coordinator Nick Petrino earning $104,648 annually, defensive line coach L.D. Scott $104,648, running backs coach Ronnie Fouch $62,418 annually, and defensive coordinator Ryan Beard $104,648 annually.

His Playoff Appearance Boosts His Salary By $25,000

Following an achievement clause in his contract, Petrino’s base pay will be enhanced by $25,000 a year for the first term’s balance. The match will automatically be renewed once in each season that the Bears reach the FCS Playoffs.

Petrino received $10,000 for leading MSU to its first joint Missouri Valley Conference championship since 1990.

According to the News-Leader, the Bears defeated the Salukis during the regular season. Petrino received an extra $5,000 when Jose Pizano’s 94th-second field goal went through the uprights since Southern Illinois qualified for the FCS Playoffs.

In addition, Petrino received a $5,000 prize for winning the MVFC Coach of the Year award. The coach was one of 16 contenders for the Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year award. He would have gotten an extra $10,000 if he had won the prize.

Each Petrino’s coaching staff member got a $1,000 achievement award for sharing the conference title and a $700 reward for participating in one FCS playoff game.

Petrino Signed A 10-Year Contract Worth $25.5 Million To Stay With Louisville In 2006

Throughout his career, Petrino has tended to move on to greener pastures, and except for his dismissal in 2018, all of his departures from each program were less than ceremonial.

Petrino reportedly cemented his position as the program’s future when he agreed to a 10-year, $25.5 million contract to stay at Louisville in July 2006.

His salary was increased under the agreement from $1 million to $1.6 million annually, and in the final year of the contract, he would have received $2.6 million. A $1 million buyout provision was inserted into the deal.

When Petrino was hired for the 2003 season, his base pay was $450,000. When he left in 2002, John L. Smith earned $800,000 a year, plus bonuses. After the prior season, the remuneration for Louisville’s assistants was significantly increased, per USA Today.

However, only six months after going 12-1 and winning the Orange Bowl with Louisville, he left to take up Jim Mora’s position as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, effectively tripling his compensation with a 5-year, $24 million contract.

Bobby Petrino’s Contract With Louisville

His 2018 Buyout From Louisville Was Worth $14 million

Forbes asserts that Petrino has amassed enormous wealth as a coach; it is said that he paid $14 million to leave Louisville in 2018.

He was given a seven-year contract with a base salary of $3.5 million. Similarly, according to ESPN, the agreement contains a buyout for termination of $10 million that declines after four years.

Although his sizable pay cut at Missouri State may not have a significant financial impact on him, his track record suggests that he could be eager to accept a more lucrative offer elsewhere if the opportunity presents itself.

However, it wouldn’t be unexpected if a few failing Power Five schools started to consider Petrino after a few successful seasons.

He may stay at Missouri State until the end of his contract, but considering his past, it’s more probable that he will depart sooner rather than later, per Forbes.

His Career As A Head Coach Started With 5 Years At Atlanta Falcons

During his four years as coach at Louisville, Bobby Petrino was the focus of countless offers. According to ESPN.com, Petrino accepted the Atlanta Falcons’ five-year, $24 million deal to succeed Jim Mora as their head coach.

Likewise, his name was frequently mentioned in connection with other coaching openings, including a humiliating incident in 2003 when Auburn arranged a covert interview with him before the end of the campaign to determine whether he might be interested in succeeding Tommy Tuberville.

After the 2004 season, Petrino visited LSU, but he passed down the Oakland Raiders’ offer a year later. Louisville renegotiated Petrino’s contract twice, giving him significant raises to maintain him.

Bobby’s Coaching Continued With Another 5 Years At Arkansas

Per an article posted by ESPN on December 12, 2010, Bobby Petrino, the former head football coach of Arkansas, agreed to a new seven-year deal through the 2017 season.

The agreement raised Petrino’s average yearly pay from $2.7 million under his old contract, which had four years left, to $3.56 million under the new deal.

Additionally, the contract contains an $18 million mutual buyout clause for 2011–12 if Petrino leaves the university or is fired by it.

However, the buyout was reduced by $25,000 in 2013, to $14.5 million in 2014, and $10.8 million in 2015. In 2016, it was $7.4 million, and in the final year of the contract, it was $3.9 million.

In contrast, it contained specific terms that provided incentives, such as $300,000 for winning the BCS championship; $150,000 for playing in the national championship game; and $125,000 for playing in a BCS bowl without a title.

Later, Petrino Signed A Four-Year Contract Worth $850,000 With Western Kentucky

On December 10, 2012, Petrino was unveiled as Western Kentucky’s new head football coach, taking over for Willie Taggart, who had left for South Florida.

Following an incident where the coach was hurt while riding a motorcycle with his mistress as a passenger, Arkansas sacked the then 51-year-old for a “pattern of deceptive” behavior in April.

Before he was fired amid the controversy, Petrino had a 34-17 record at Arkansas. Jessica Dorrell, a former volleyball player for the Razorbacks, was the subject of an affair with Petrino. He later employed her as a football assistant and gave her presents totaling $20,000.

According to ESPN, after being fired by Arkansas, Petrino was looking to resume his coaching career. His name was floated in connection with a variety of positions, including Kentucky and Auburn.

Petrino signed a four-year contract with Western Kentucky that included an $850,000 base salary. He was required to make six payments of $1.2 million to the university over six months if he decided to end the agreement at any point.

MSU Coach Bobby Was Named As One Of The Highest Paid Coaches In 2011

The father of four, who earned a stunning $3.06 million in 2011, managed to gain a slot among the top twenty coaches in terms of pay.

Petrino, who had a bad reputation for switching jobs, according to Bleacher Report, arrived in Arkansas with a negative reputation but seemed to have settled down in the land of the big red Razorbacks.

Basically, Nick Saban of Alabama was the highest-paid coach on the list, earning $5.2 million annually.

As reported by The Athletic, Saban’s new deal, which the Alabama board of trustees pay committee authorized and which runs until February 2030, makes him the highest-paid coach in NCAA football not just in 2011 but also in 2022.

With an average annual compensation of $11.7 million over the course of the eight-year term, the total value of the agreement is $93.6 million. The compensation for Saban in 2022 will be $10.7 million, and in 2029 it will increase to $12.7 million.

Lewiston Native Petrino’s Staggering Net Worth Amid His Over 30 Years Of Coaching Career

Given that he isn’t listed on the Celebrity Net Worth list of the top 50 highest-paid coaches, Robert Patrick Petrino’s net worth might be less than $10 million.

With a net worth of $16 million and a salary of $7 million, Tom Coughlin, a coach, is rated 50th on the list. Additionally, it’s been reported that Petrino’s compensation is $3.06 million, which is just half of what Coach Tom makes.

Likewise, with a net worth of $130 million and a salary of $50 million, coach Diego Simeone, best known for his time as an Atletico Madrid player and manager, took the top spot.

In general, his 38-year coaching career may have earned him a sizable fortune. In addition, the value of his real estate may have contributed millions to his bank statement. Furthermore, a few online outlets have estimated his net worth to be $5 million, but none of these claims have been verified by reliable sources.

Before being a head coach, in 1989, Petrino worked for the University of Idaho’s new head coach, John L. Smith, as the quarterback’s coach for a full season before being elevated to offensive coordinator the following year.

When he was hired as the quarterback’s coach at Arizona State University in the Pac-10 Conference in 1992, he advanced up the collegiate coaching ladder to Division I-A (now FBS).

Jake Plummer, a future All-American quarterback who later played ten seasons in the NFL, was nurtured by him during his two seasons at ASU under head coach Bruce Snyder.

Petrino Listed His $1.45 Million Home For Sale In 2018

The former head football coach of the University of Louisville listed his house for $1.45 million on the market in 2018.

The 10,000-square-foot residence, located in the Lake Forest Estates community, features six bedrooms and nine bathrooms, according to The Business Journals.

According to Jefferson County property records, Petrino and his wife, Rebecca, paid $1.7 million for the house in 2014. The 2009-built residence has a $1.5 million assessed value.

The house has a primary suite with a private foyer entrance and a sitting area that leads to the terrace. Additionally, it features a coffee/wet bar area and two walk-in closets.

Four spacious bedroom suites are on the second level, each with a complete bathroom and a walk-in closet. The house also features an elevator. Moreover, there is a complete outdoor kitchen, a covered fireplace, a pool, and a fire pit outside.

Some FAQs

How Old Is Bobby Petrino?

Robert Patrick “Bobby” Petrino, an American football coach, born on March 10, 1961, is 61 years old.

Is Bobby Petrino Married?

Bobby Petrino is married to his wife, Becky Petrino, in 1995.

How Much Does Bobby Petrino Earns?

Bobby Petrino contract with Missouri State was extended until the 2025 season, with a new base salary of $325,000.