Report: With assistants clearing $3.8 million, Alabama boasts nation's highest-paid coaching staff

11769992-standard.jpg Alabama Coach Nick Saban and Alabama Defensive Coordinator Kirby Smart react after Alabama defensive back Dee Milliner was penalized for interfering with the fair catch of a Mississippi State receiver in the second quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012. (Mark Almond/  
Alabama doesn't have the highest paid group of assistant coaches in college football, but when their salaries are combined with head coach Nick Saban's, there's no staff in the country that makes more than the Crimson Tide's.

According to a comprehensive USA Today report, Alabama's coaching staff makes a combined salary of $9,281,738. It's $16,988 more than the next highest paid staff at Texas and $1.4 million more than LSU, which ranks third.

Saban, college football's highest-paid head coach, will make $5,476,738 in 2012. Alabama's nine, on-field assistant coaches will combine to make $3.805 million.

Defensive coordinator Kirby Smart collects the most of any Crimson Tide assistant, as his $950,000 salary made him the third-highest paid assistant in the nation. Former USC defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin made $1.5 million and Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris collected $1.3 million, according to the report.

Offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier was set to make $590,000 in 2012. Three others make more than $350,000.

Salaries for Saban and his staff have increased by $2.87 million since he arrived in 2007.

"It doesn't really matter what my opinion is or anyone else's opinion," Saban said in March. "The market is what it is, and if we're not willing to pay that to the best people that we have, they're not going to be here."

Dabo Swinney's assistant coaching staff at Clemson makes $4.2 million, the most in college football, according to the report. LSU's also clears $4 million while Alabama is one of seven schools that pay more than $3 million.

According to a recent ESPN report, Alabama football made a $45.1 million profit during the 2011-12 fiscal year.