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College World Series 2025: Who are the highest-paid baseball coaches in the CWS?
College World Series 2025: Who are the highest-paid baseball coaches in the CWS?
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5 men's NCAA baseball tournament players to watch
The Mongomery Advertiser's Adam Cole and The Tennesseean's Aria Gerson break down the top players to watch in the men's NCAA baseball tournament.
This week, eight college baseball teams arrived in Omaha, Nebraska with national championship aspirations.
The College World Series is college baseball's biggest spectacle: a two-week-long, double-elimination tournament that serves as a showcase for and celebration of the sport, all of which culminates with a team hoisting an NCAA title trophy by the end of the championship series in late June.
The stakes are high for those involved, with life-long dreams on the line under the careful and intense watch of millions of viewers across the country. For many of the coaches taking part in the spectacle, it's a pressure that comes with a sizable paycheck.
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Though they're seldom paid as handsomely as their football or men's basketball counterparts, college baseball coaches are integral, high-profile figures in an athletic department, particularly at schools that regularly prioritize the sport and make deep postseason runs. The group of coaches in this year's CWS ranges from some of the more notable names in the profession, like LSU's Jay Johnson and Arkansas' Dave Van Horn, to relative newcomers, like Coastal Carolina's Kevin Schnall and Murray State's Dan Skirka.
How much, exactly, do they make?
With the CWS starting Friday, here's a look at where the eight coaches in this year's event rank in earnings:
REQUIRED READING: College World Series bracket: Schedule, matchups for 2025 NCAA baseball championship
2025 College World Series coaches' salaries
Coaches are listed based on base salary, with the highest earners at the top
1. Dan McDonnell, Louisville Cardinals
Basic annual compensation from school: $1.7 million*
$1.7 million* Bonuses for team performance (so far in 2025): $150,000
* Includes retention payment McDonnell will receive if he remains Louisville's head coach on June 30, 2025.
2. Jay Johnson, LSU Tigers
Basic annual compensation from school: $1.675 million
$1.675 million Bonuses for team performance (so far in 2025): $145,000
3. Dave Van Horn, Arkansas Razorbacks
Basic annual compensation from school: $1.45 million
$1.45 million Bonuses for team performance (so far in 2025): $225,000
4. John Savage, UCLA Bruins
Basic annual compensation from school: $848,000*
$848,000* Bonuses for team performance (so far in 2025): $30,000
* Includes retention payment Savage will receive if he remains UCLA's head coach on June 30, 2025.
5. Mitch Canham, Oregon State Beavers
Basic annual compensation from school: $750,000
$750,000 Bonuses for team performance (so far in 2025): $92,500
6. David Hale, Arizona Wildcats
Basic annual compensation from school: $450,000
$450,000 Bonuses for team performance (so far in 2025): $65,000
7. Kevin Schnall, Coastal Carolina:
Basic annual compensation from school: $375,768
$375,768 Bonuses for team performance (so far in 2025): $222,500
8. Dan Skirka, Murray State
Basic annual compensation from school: $90,775
$90,775 Bonuses for team performance (so far in 2025): $7,000
USA Today sports project reporter Steve Berkowitz contributed to this report.
