Alabama strength coach Scott Cochran could have left the Crimson Tide to join former UA defensive coordinator Kirby Smart's Georgia staff after last season, but he decided to stay with Nick Saban.
Cochran is being rewarded handsomely for the loyalty.
The university board of trustees' compensation committee approved a raise of $105,000 for Cochran on Tuesday, bringing his annual salary to $525,000, which is more than 20 FBS head coaches made in base salary in 2015, per USA Today's coaching-salary database.
He's now tied for the fourth-highest salary among 'Bama assistants. Only defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt ($1 million), offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin ($714,000) and co-defensive coordinator/OLB coach Tosh Lupoi ($550,000) have higher salaries.
Alabama athletic director Bill Battle on Tuesday called Cochran "the loudest and most energetic coach in America" and said he's "the equivalent of a coordinator with what he contributes" to the program, per USA Today.
Yes, it pays to pump up Saban's players, but it's not unheard of for a college strength coach to make that kind of money. Iowa's Chris Doyle had a salary of $515,000 that will expire at the end of the month, according to USA Today.
Cochran is a little, shall we say, unconventional in his methods, as it's also not unheard of for Cochran to rub Icy Hot on his body in an effort to fire up his players.
If you're Saban's strength coach, that kind of outside-the-box thinking will get you paid.
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