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Big Ten Football Coaches
By Chris Wright
Last Updated:
The Big Ten has been around since 1896, making it the oldest Division I athletic conference in the United States. Though many of the schools have changed, the conference and its many traditions have stood the test of time.
Heading into the 2025 season, the B1G has 18 football programs.
On this page, we’ll take a look at who those 18 B1G football coaches are, their salaries, their buyout information and more.
Let’s dive in:
Big Ten Coach Bio Pages
From coast to coast, California to New York, and everywhere in between, the Big Ten is home to some big-name football coaches. Kirk Ferentz has been at Iowa since 1999. Matt Rhule (Nebraska) and Luke Fickell (Wisconsin) still are relative newcomers at their current gigs. Dan Lanning (Oregon) is a rising star, whereas questions are starting to arise about Lincoln Riley (USC).
Here are the in-depth coach biography pages for each of the current B1G coaches:
- Illinois: Bret Bielema
- Indiana: Curt Cignetti
- Iowa: Kirk Ferentz
- Maryland: Mike Locksley
- Michigan: Sherrone Moore
- Michigan State: Jonathan Smith
- Minnesota: PJ Fleck
- Nebraska: Matt Rhule
- Northwestern: David Braun
- Ohio State: Ryan Day
- Oregon: Dan Lanning
- Penn State: James Franklin
- Purdue: Barry Odom
- Rutgers: Greg Schiano
- UCLA: DeShaun Foster
- USC: Lincoln Riley
- Washington: Jedd Fisch
- Wisconsin: Luke Fickell
Next, let’s take a look at the salaries, buyouts and records for each of the current B1G coaches.
Big Ten Coach Salaries
Big Ten Coach Buyouts
Buyouts are a big topic of discussion in college football these days, and the 18 current Big Ten coaches are not immune from those conversations. As pressure to win (and win big) in college football increases, a down year can lead to a coach losing his job.
With that said, let’s take a look at some of the buyouts, both massive and school-friendly, for the current crop of Big Ten coaches. These buyout numbers reflect what a school would have to pay a coach to fire him without cause before the end of the 2024 season:
(Source: USA TODAY)
Curt Cignetti just signed a new deal during the 2024 season, and Indiana’s Playoff appearance guaranteed his buyout is 100% of whatever remains. Northwestern is a private institution, so it doesn’t have to reveal David Braun’s buyout figures.
Winningest Big Ten Coaches of All-Time
Some of the most legendary coaches in all of college football history have called the Big Ten home. But only 4 coaches in the lengthy history of the B1G have ever finished their careers with more than 100 wins against fellow Big Ten opponents.
Let’s take a look at the updated all-time leaders entering 2025 when it comes to wins against Big Ten teams as a Big Ten head coach, starting with Ohio State legend Woody Hayes:
(Source: B1G Media Guide)
Will Kirk Ferentz stay at Iowa long enough to Bo Schembechler and Woody Hayes? Stay tuned. Penn State coach James Franklin enters the 2025 season with 62 B1G wins. Bret Bielema has 54 career B1G wins as head coach at Wisconsin and now Illinois.