The head coaches of the three public schools in the Final Four this year (North Carolina, Oregon and South Carolina; Gonzaga is a private institution) make a combined $7.2 million annually, which exemplifies the high-going rate for coaches, even at public institutions. Comparatively, the governors of all 50 states have a combined annual salary of $6.9 million. Shockingly, however, none of these three coaches--Roy Williams, Dana Altman or Frank Martin--is the highest paid public employee in his respective state. In North Carolina, that status is held by former NC State basketball coach Mark Gottfried, who was fired at the end of this season.
College coaches are the highest paid public employees of 39 states
