Cortez Hankton will make $900,000 in his first season as Ohio State’s wide receivers coach.

According to documents obtained by The Columbus Dispatch’s Joey Kaufman, the new Ohio State wide receivers coach is set to make $900,000 in 2026 and $1 million in 2027.

Compared to Ohio State’s 2025 assistant coach salaries, Hankton’s $900,000 salary exceeds those of quarterbacks coach Billy Fessler, linebackers coach James Laurinaitis, running backs coach Carlos Locklyn, and tight ends coach Keenan Bailey. It matches last year’s salaries of safeties coach Matt Guerrieri and offensive line coach Tyler Bowen, though their salaries are set to increase to $1 million in 2026, per the terms of their contracts from last year.

OHIO STATE’S 2025 ASSISTANT COACH SALARIES

COACH

TITLE

2025 SALARY

CONTRACT END

MATT PATRICIA

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR

$2,500,000

2028

BRIAN HARTLINE*

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR/WIDE RECEIVERS COACH

$2,000,000

2028

TIM WALTON

CO-DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR/SECONDARY COACH

$1,800,000

2028

LARRY JOHNSON

ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH/DEFENSIVE LINE COACH

$1,400,000

2026

TYLER BOWEN

OFFENSIVE LINE COACH/RUN GAME COORDINATOR

$900,000

2028

MATT GUERRIERI

PASSING GAME COORDINATOR/SAFETIES COACH

$900,000

2028

KEENAN BAILEY

CO-OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR/TIGHT ENDS COACH

$650,000

2027

CARLOS LOCKLYN

RUNNING BACKS COACH

$650,000

2027

JAMES LAURINAITIS

LINEBACKERS COACH

$500,000

2027

BILLY FESSLER

QUARTERBACKS COACH

$475,000

2027

*HARTLINE IS NOW USF’S HEAD COACH AND IS SET TO MAKE $3.5 MILLION ANNUALLY

Hankton signed a two-year contract on Jan. 1 to replace Brian Hartline, who is now USF’s head coach and is set to make $3.5 million annually. Hartline made $2 million as Ohio State’s offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach last season. Ohio State has not yet announced Hartline’s replacement as offensive coordinator.

Like the rest of Ohio State’s assistant coaches, the 44-year-old Hankton is eligible for the following performance bonuses:

10% of their base salary if Ohio State makes the College Football Playoff, which increases to 20% if Ohio State makes the quarterfinals, 25% if Ohio State makes the semifinals, 30% if Ohio State makes the national championship game and 35% if Ohio State wins the national championship

8% of their base salary if Ohio State makes the Big Ten Championship Game, which increases to 12% if the Buckeyes win the Big Ten Championship Game

According to USA TODAY’s salary database, Hankton made $1 million at LSU in 2025 as the Tigers’ wide receivers coach and co-offensive coordinator.