Bill Belichick's entrance into college football instantly makes him one of the most intriguing figures in the sport.
College football is full of figurehead coaches who remain at their programs long after their players graduate or move on to the NFL Belichick, who won six Super Bowls as an NFL head coach, is now at North Carolina and must compete with coaches who have accumulated much college-level success.
As expected, all these big-name head coaches are paid well, setting a bar for Belichick's salary when the veteran coach negotiated his deal with the Tar Heels. Here's a look at the former Patriots coach's salary in his first season at UNC.
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Bill Belichick contract details
Belichick and North Carolina agreed to a five-year deal worth $10 million per season, which includes a $1 million base salary and $9 million in a monthly "supplemental income."
Additionally, Belichick is set to earn incentives based on the team's success. He will get $150,000 for leading the team to eight wins, with that incentive increasing by $50,000 for every win up until 12 possible victories.
Other possible incentives include:
- $200,000 for a conference championship appearance
- $300,000 for winning the conference championship
- $150,000 for every non-CFP bowl gam appearance
- $350,000 for appearing in any of the following: Pop-Tarts Bowl, TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, or the Duke Mayo Bowl
- $750,000 for appearing in the College Football Playoff with an additional $250,000 per round, leading to a potential $1.75 million incentive for winning the CFP
Belichick also has incentives for milestones including awards and academic progress.
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Bill Belichick buyout
As is the case with most college coaches, Belichick has a buyout clause in his contract in case he leaves North Carolina. The buyout was $10 million through June 1, 2025, but since that date has passed, it has dropped to $1 million.
That could be significant if an NFL team considers hiring Belichick after the season, as $1 million is a modest sum for a professional franchise.
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Highest-paid college football coaches
Here is a list of the top 10 highest-paid coaches in college football for the 2025 seasons, according to Front Office Sports.
| Rank | Coach | College | Salary per year |
| 1. | Kirby Smart | Georgia | $13 million |
| 2. | Ryan Day | Ohio State | $12.5 million |
| 3. | Dabo Swinney | Clemson | $11.5 million |
| 4. | Dan Lanning | Oregon | $11 million |
| T-5. | Deion Sanders | Colorado | $10.8 million |
| T-5 | Steve Sarkisian | Texas | $10.8 million |
| 7. | Kalen DeBoer | Alabama | $10.25 million |
| 8. | Lincoln Riley | USC | $10.2 million |
| 9. | Bill Belichick | North Carolina | $10 million |
| 10. | Brian Kelly | LSU | $9.9 million |
Belichick is currently the ninth-highest paid coach in college football. Of the eight coaches ranked higher, three have won national championships, four more have made the College Football Playoff, and one is Deion Sanders.
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