How much is Clark Lea's salary? Where does Vanderbilt's HC stand compared to Kirby Smart and Hugh Freeze?

Clark Lea is entering his third season as head coach of the Vanderbilt Commodores.

Lea was announced as the head coach on December 14, 2020, as he replaced Derek Mason and became the 29th head football coach for Vanderbilt. Prior to being hired as head coach, Lee was an assistant at Notre Dame, Syracuse, UCLA, and Wake Forest among others.

Although Clark Lea hasn’t led the Vanderbilt Commodores to a winning season in either of his first two years, the school announced a three-year extension on Monday.

Clearly, the standard of pay and success is different at Vanderbilt than at its mighty Southeastern Conference brethren.

Lea’s extension takes his contract through 2029, The Tennessean reported. Financial details were not released by the school, which is a private institution and has no obligation to provide that information.

The Commodores went 2-10 in Lea’s first season, but they went 5-7 last season, snagging their first SEC win since 2019. Plus, they beat the Florida Gators for the first time since 2013 as well as the first time at home since 1988. Florida still holds a lopsided win in the series 43-11-2.

According to the school’s release, the five 2022 wins were the second-most by a second-year Vandy coach since 1975.

"Vanderbilt is home, it is such an honor for me to lead our football program," Lea, a former Commodores linebacker, said in a statement. "The only way that we accomplish the mission we have set forth for Vanderbilt Football is with the vision and support from Chancellor [Daniel] Diermeier and [athletic director] Candice Lee.

“To have them acknowledge the progress we've made to this point, and to commit to seeing us push further on our journey means everything to me."

Lee had been an assistant at Notre Dame, Syracuse, UCLA and Wake Forest among other stops before landing his first head-coaching gig at his alma mater.

The modest success for a school that hasn't had a winning season since 2013 was enough for him to earn an extension.

The Tennessean reported that, according to tax records, Lea made $3 million. That salary is below some offensive and defensive coordinators in the SEC and is dwarfed by what the heavyweight coaches, like Alabama’s Nick Saban and Georgia’s Kirby Smart, make.

How does Clark Lea's salary compare to other coaches?

With Vanderbilt not being known as a football school, it shouldn't be a surprise that Clark Lea's salary is less than most Southeastern Conference (SEC) coaches.

The lowest salary for an SEC coach is Mississippi State's new coach, Zach Arnett, who will be making $3 million. Next, Eli Drinkwitz of Missouri will make $6 million, which is tied for 12th with Sam Pittman. This means Lea was tied for the lowest salary of any SEC coach.

Compared to the top coaches of the SEC, Clark Lea is just making a fraction of what they are making. Kirby Smart, coach of the Georgia Bulldogs, is making $11.2 million a year, while Hugh Freeze of Aurbun got $6.5 million to take over as head coach of the Tigers.

The full salaries of the SEC head coaches are as follows:

1. Nick Saban, Alabama, $11.7 million
2. Kirby Smart, Georgia, $11.2 million
3. Brian Kelley, LSU, $9.5 million
4. Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M, $9.5 million
5. Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss, $9 million
6. Josh Heupel, Tennessee, $9 million
7. Mark Stoops, Kentucky $8.6 million
8. Billy Napier, Florida $7.2 million
9. Hugh Freeze, Auburn, $6.5 million
10. Shane Beamer, South Carolina, $6.2 million
11. Sam Pittman, Arkansas, $6 million
12. Eli Drinkwintz, Missouri, $6 million
13. Zach Arnett, Misssiippi State, $3 million