Kevin Wilson’s Indiana staff earning substantial salaries

Kevin Wilson has been the Indiana football head coach for just over three months now and the buzz is still in the air.

How many times during the winter months are sports talk shows and fans talking about Indiana football? Coach Wilson and Indiana have taken full advantage of the coaching change.

Wilson agreed to a seven-year contract for $1.2 million per year. Former head coach Bill Lynch made just $660,000 with a base salary of just $266,513—last in the Big Ten.

During the coaching search, athletic director Fred Glass agreed that it’s time IU invested in a coach for this program. “We are prepared to make available the financial resources to get the person or persons that we want.” And that’s just what the team university has done.

There has been so much going on lately about whether the NFL owners will open their books to the players association. Indianapolis Star IU beat writer Terry Hutchens wrote an article today detailing Kevin Wilson’s assistants pay.

Starting on defense, the co-defensive coordinators, Doug Mallory and Mike Ekeler will each earn $300,000. That’s nearly double the salary Joe Palcic and Brian George earned the last few years, $159,908. Defensive backs coach Brett Diersen will be paid $160,000 and cornerbacks coach Brandon Shelby will earn $150,000 annually.

Now to offense where there are also two coaches sharing the coordinator position. Kevin Johns, who was rated the top wide receivers coach in the Big Ten according to Rivals, will earn $250,000. Rodney Smith who is coming over from Michigan will make $240,000. Offensive line coach Greg Frey is schedule to be paid $220,000 and running backs coach Deland McCullough will bring in $150,000 annually. Every assistant coaches salary is at least $150,000—an unprecedented move at Indiana.

The money distribution doesn’t stop with assistant coaches. Glass provided Wilson with nearly $2 million dollars for his support staff including strength coach Mark Hill who will make $160,000 and Billy Ray Johnson (football operations) is paid $110,000.

This is another step in the right director for the football program. IU has made it a point with the North End Zone, marketing efforts and coaching staff salaries that they are taking the football team seriously.

Kevin Wilson is a no-nonsense football coach, and he understands it is going to take effort to build this program up. Despite hating social media, Wilson has agreed to updating his twitter account daily and Wednesday he even answered five questions from fans. One of his responses was especially interesting.

Asked what the biggest adjustment this team needs to make to have a winning season this year, Wilson said, “The biggest adjustment is to change their attitudes and have higher expectations with no limitations.” Well said coach. Spring practice began on Tuesday and the spring game will take place on April 16th at 11 a.m., prior to the Little 500.