Brad White, Liam Coen are Highest-Paid UK Employees

The two highest-paid employees at the University of Kentucky are assistant football coaches. A new database created by the Herald-Leader revealed that Liam Coen and Brad White make more money from the school than any employees on campus.

Kentucky’s offensive coordinator will make $1.7 million this year, while the fifth-year defensive coordinator is set to earn $1.5 million. Coen and White rank 11th and 12th, respectively, among all active college football assistant coaches, according to USA Today.

This fact comes with a disclaimer: of course John Calipari and Mark Stoops make more money than their assistant coaches. The difference is a significant portion of their salaries are actually paid by JMI Sports, who own UK’s media and licensing rights.

For example, in Mark Stoops’s first year at Kentucky, the university only paid $400,000 of his $2 million salary. The rest came from the agreement with JMI sports. This year Stoops was paid $8.6 million and earned a $100,000 bonus for taking Kentucky to a bowl game. They were one win shy of another $50,000 bonus. John Calipari will earn $8.1 million this year. That will bump up to match Stoops at $8.6 million in June 2025.

In addition to White and Coen, Vince Marrow is one of the five highest-paid employees on UK’s campus. Stoops’ three top assistants earn $4.4 million annually. There is still no contract information available on UK’s website for new wide receivers coach Daikiel Shorts.

The salary pool for John Calipari is much smaller. His five assistant coaches will combine to make less than $2.5 million this year.

Orlando Antigua: $900,000
Chin Coleman: $600,000
Chuck Martin: $350,000
Bruiser Flint: $325,000
John Welch: $250,000

Top 10 Highest Paid UK Employees

1. Coen: $1.7 million
2. White: $1.5 million
3. Robert DiPaola, provost: $1.3 million
4. Mitch Barnhart, athletics director: $1.3 million
5. Vince Marrow, associate head football coach: $1.2 million
6. Eric Monday, executive VP for finance and administration: $1.2 million
7. Mark Newman, university advisor for health care innovation and growth: $1.1 million
8. Thomas Pittman, professor of neurosurgery: $1.1 million
9. Eli Capilouto, president: $1.1 million
10. Rouzbeh Motiei-Langroudi, assistant professor of neurosurgery, $1.1 million

[Herald-Leader Database]