Report: Utah’s Whittingham Takes Second Largest Pay Cut Among FBS Head Coaches Amid Pandemic

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah head football coach Kyle Whittingham took the second largest pay reduction among FBS head coaches in 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to USA Today.

The Utah football coach will receive 7.3 percent less money than he was originally slated to take home from the university.

Whittingham’s $365,822 pay cut in 2020 only trailed Florida State’s Mike Norvell on USA Today’s list of 2020 NCAAF Coaches Salaries. Norvell will reportedly see a decreased amount of $468,750 this year.

Prior to the pay reduction caused by the effects of COVID-19, Whittingham was contracted to received $5 million from the University of Utah.

Kyle Whittingham has a long "laundry list" heading into camp. If anyone can get these things ironed out in a pandemic is this coaching staff.#GoUtes @kslsports https://t.co/j8Ux1UQA33

— Trevor Allen (@TrevorASports) October 1, 2020

He will now received $4,634,178 in 2020.

Whittingham’s total pay makes him the 20th highest paid head coach in college football.

Alabama head coach Nick Saban is No. 1 on USA Today’s list which a total pay amount of $9.3 million.

USA Today stated that the information on Whittingham’s cut was “based on information provided by the university in response to an open-records request, not a full employment contract.”

On athletic department furloughs: @MarkHarlan_AD says they are still dealing with the unknown when it comes to revenue.

They will continue the furlough program with the necessary adjustments as the season nears.

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 25, 2020

Whittingham’s current buyout is listed at $9,250,000.

Clemson’s Dabo Swinney took the largest hit according to USA Today. Swinney’s overall pay will be reduced $1.25 million because of the pandemic cuts. However, the Tigers head coach will not see any decrease in 2020.

Some coaches are receiving the entire pay reduction in 2020 while others have the amount spread across multiple years. Whittingham’s entire cut takes place in 2020.

Following the Pac-12’s postponement of fall sports in August, Utah athletic director Mark Harlan said that the Utes’ athletic department was projecting a $50-60 million loss if fall sports were canceled.

"It could be anywhere from a 50 to 60 million dollar loss"

– @MarkHarlan_AD on the cancellation of fall sports @utahathletics #GoUtes

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) August 12, 2020

In late September, the conference announced that its 2020 football schedule would begin in early November.

The Utes will open the season at home against the Arizona Wildcats on Saturday, November 7.