This USA TODAY article helps explain the outrageous salaries many college football coaches earn. Often, a public university’s coach ranks as the highest paid public official in the state, well beyond the governor, for instance.
Ohio State’s athletic program is the nation’s top collegiate sports moneymaker.
Ohio State made $89.7 million from ticket sales, royalties, advertising, broadcast agreements and other sources during the 2004-05 academic year, about $50,000 more than second-place Texas, according to U.S. Department of Education statistics.
The Buckeyes’ top rival, Michigan, placed third on the list at $78.4 million, followed by Florida ($77.4 million) and Wisconsin ($75.3 million).
Ohio State has the most athletes and teams among the NCAA’s Division I schools.
“You always want to be the biggest and the best,” said athletic director Gene Smith, in charge of a self-sufficient department that has more than 900 student-athletes in 36 sports.
Ohio State sports receive no money from the government or the university.
Georgia had the nation’s most profitable college sports program, making $23.9 million more than it spent.
Texas was tops in football revenue with $53.2 million, better than runner-up Ohio State’s $51.8 million.
The Longhorns also had the most profitable football program, making $38.7 million after expenses. Ohio State was eighth in that category with $26.1 million.
