Sports coaches at Northern Illinois University received an average salary of $163,602 in 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
This figure ranks as the fifth-highest coaching salary among post-secondary institutions in Illinois.
Male coaches leading men’s teams earned an average of $225,740, whereas female coaches of women’s teams made $120,106 at Northern Illinois University.
The university employed 17 sports coaches during that year
A Knight Commission report projects that within a decade, some Power 5 football coaches will earn more than their schools spend on scholarships and medical care for all athletes. The study estimates more than $1 billion in new annual revenue from the expanded College Football Playoff and media rights deals. By 2032, nearly half of public Power 5 schools could reach this ‘crossover point.’
| Institution | Salary |
|---|---|
| The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | $1 million |
| Northwestern University | $597,585 |
| DePaul University | $271,647 |
| Loyola University Chicago | $192,511 |
| Northern Illinois University | $163,602 |
| Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | $153,236 |
| Illinois State University | $151,175 |
| Bradley University | $151,032 |
| The University of Illinois Chicago | $116,410 |
| Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville | $91,180 |
Information in this story was obtained from the U.S. Department of Education. The source data can be found here.
