The best coach in college baseball is now also the highest paid coach in college baseball.
On Thursday it was reported that LSU and Jay Johnson have agreed to a seven-year extension that will pay him $23.45 million before bonuses. Johnson will make $3.05 million over the course of this year, and his annual salary will climb as high as $3.65 million when the deal expires in 2032. Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello was the highest paid coach in the country prior to this deal.
Josh Jordan, LSU’s recruiting coordinator, and Josh Simpson, the director of baseball operations, also received new deals. Jordan got three years added to his deal and will make an average of $485,000; Simpson will make $250,000 and is now under contract through 2028.
Johnson is 190-77 in four years as head coach of the Tigers and led LSU to national championships in 2023 and 2025. Even at $3 million a year, it feels like LSU’s still getting Jay at a bargain.