Ohio State Defensive Coordinator Matt Patricia Becomes Highest-Paid Assistant In CFB, Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith’s Deal Is Worth $3.5 Million Over Two Years

Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia’s new contract extension will make him the highest-paid assistant coach in college football.

According to contracts obtained by The Bill And Doug Show, Patricia’s contract is worth $11.45 million over three years. The deal comes after Patricia led Ohio State to No. 1 finishes in both scoring defense and total defense.

The Bill and Doug show also found details of the contracts signed by other members of Ohio State’s coaching staff. New offensive coordinator Arthur Smith signed a two-year deal with the Buckeyes worth $3.5 million.

Smith has little experience coaching at the collegiate level prior to joining Ohio State’s staff, but he was an offensive coordinator with the NFL’s Tennessee Titans and the Pittsburgh Steelers and even was the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons from 2021 to 2023.

New additions to the staff, including wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton and special teams coach Robby Discher signed new deals with the Buckeyes.

Hankton, who was previously the wide receivers coach at LSU, will be paid $900,000 this year and $1 million next year as part of his two-year deal.

Discher, the former Illinois special teams coach, will make $400,000 this year and $450,000 in 2027.

Four returning coaches also signed new deals. Defensive line coach Larry Johnson signed a one-year deal worth $1.6 million, linebackers coach James Laurinaitis signed a two-year deal worth $1.85 million, quarterbacks coach Billy Fessler signed a two-year deal worth $1.55 million and running backs coach Carlos Locklyn signed a two-year deal worth $1.45 million.