How much will Purdue football assistants earn in 2023?
Three Purdue assistant coaches will earn at least $500,000, according to salary information provided to GoldandBlack.com following an open records request.
Contracts for offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Graham Harrell and offensive line coach Matt Mattox weren’t made available.
Per his contract terms, Purdue head coach Ryan Walters is given a $5,500,000 salary pool for 10 assistants and one strength coach.
The eight assistant coaches whose contracts were obtained by GoldandBlack.com will earn a combined $3,415,000 million in 2023.
| Assistant, position | 2023 compensation |
| Kevin Kane, defensive coordinator/linebackers | $850,000 |
| Cory Patterson, associate head coach/receivers | $600,000 |
| Brick Haley, defensive line | $500,000 |
| Sam Carter, cornerbacks | $430,000 |
| Grant O’Brien, safeties | $275,000 |
| Lamar Conard, running backs | $260,000 |
| Joe Dineen, outside linebackers | $250,000 |
| Seth Doege, tight ends | $250,000 |
Purdue paid buyouts totaling $969,505.70 for four assistants and Walters:
| Assistant (school paid) | Buyout |
| Sam Carter (Mississippi) | $430,000 |
| Cory Patterson (Illinois) | $369,505.70 |
| Kevin Kane (Illinois) | $100,000 |
| Brick Haley (Minnesota) | $50,000 |
| Ryan Walters (Illinois) | $20,000 |
All of the above assistants have two-year contracts that run until December 31, 2024. But Kane has a three-year contract that expires December 31, 2025.
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Assistant coaches are eligible to earn bonuses for academics, winning the Big Ten West, finishing second, winning the league title and if Purdue advances to the College Football Playoff, one of the New Year’s Six bowls or another bowl game.
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Assistants also are provided a courtesy vehicle. If none is available, a vehicle stipend of $500 per month is provided.
Further details of Walters’ contract also were obtained.
Here’s a breakdown of the first-year head coach’s annual base salary, per his contract which runs through December 31, 2027:
| Year | Base salary |
| 2023 | $4,000,000 |
| 2024 | $4,050,000 |
| 2025 | $4,100,000 |
| 2026 | $4,150,000 |
| 2027 | $4,200,000 |
Walters is provided one courtesy vehicle or a vehicle allowance up to $15,000 annually. Other perks include a $5,000 apparel allotment and a family membership to the Lafayette Country Club.
Walters also is eligible to earn bonuses for academics, winning the Big Ten West, finishing second, winning the league title and if Purdue advances to the College Football Playoff, one of the New Year’s Six bowls or another bowl game. He also can earn bonuses for winning national and Big Ten coach of the year honors.
Walters’ performance bonus base is $1,500,000.
Walters’ buyout terms:
| Dates | Buyout |
| 12/14/2022-12/31/2024 | $6,000,000 |
| 1/1/2025-12/31/2025 | $5,000,000 |
| 1/1/2026-12/31/2027 | $4,000,000 |
If Walters’ is terminated by Purdue, he would be owed 75 percent of his annual base salary.
