We Won Nationals! Which NCAA Gymnastics Coaches are Cashing In?

Updated as of April 2025

Winning an NCAA national championship is the ultimate dream for any college coach. Along with the glory of a national title comes pride, prestige, and often, a significant payday. NCAA coaches typically receive performance-based bonuses in addition to their base salaries, with rewards tied to their team’s success throughout the season. These bonuses vary from contract to contract and may include bonuses for strong team academic performance, coaching awards, or even a dual-meet victory against a rival. However, most contracts focus on the following milestones: conference championships, regional qualification, a Nationals berth, and of course, the coveted national title. We wondered which coaches stand to earn the most when their team wins the NCAA championship? We’ve poured over as many contracts as we could get our hands on and these are the coaches with the highest incentive bump for winning a natty. 

10. Tim Garrison, Kentucky: $35,000

Garrison has led the Wildcats for 14 seasons, during that time he has helped transform the program from a mid-20s ranking team into a consistent top-10 contender. Under his leadership the Wildcats qualified to Nationals for the first time in program history. In 2023, he guided the team back to Nationals, where they achieved their highest placement to date. 

9. Heather Brink, Nebraska: $36,793

The last time Brink led the Cornhuskers to NCAAs was back in 2018, where they placed sixth. Since then, Nebraska has struggled to emerge back into the Nationals conversation. If the Huskers manage a return back and finish on top, Brink stands to earn a generous payout.

8. Ashley Johnston, Alabama: $37,500

After taking over the program from Dana Duckworth following the 2022 season, Johnston has led the Crimson Tide to Nationals in 2024 and 2025. While last year’s championships didn’t go according to plan, a strong showing this year has them heading in the right direction. Johnston secured a one-month salary bonus for getting her team to Nationals, and even more success could build on those earnings.

7. Jay Clark, LSU: $40,000

After guiding the Tigers to a historic victory in 2024, Jay Clark was able to lock in a generous base salary of $400,000 and become the highest-paid coach in college gymnastics, according to the contracts we were able to compare with. Should Clark lead his team to another Nationals victory, he stands to earn an additional $40,000 bonus.

6. Justin Howell and Elisabeth Crandall-Howell, Clemson: $40,000 combined

After thirteen tremendously successful seasons at Cal, the Howells are embarking on their next journey at Clemson. The co-head coaches transformed the Golden Bears from a team that was once an afterthought in the NCAA gymnastics world, into one that could contend for a national title, finishing as high as second during the 2024 season. If the Howells can replicate that success with the Tigers and lead the team to a championship title, each will receive a $20,000 bonus, a massive bump from the $7,000 Championship title bonus they were entitled at Cal.

5. Kim Landrus, NC State: $40,000       

Now in her eighth season of leading the Wolfpack, Kim Landrus has guided the team to a regional appearance every year. Along the way, she’s earned bonuses for finishing in the top 36, top 32, and even top 16 in 2021. If she eventually leads the Wolfpack to a Nationals appearance, she is eligible to earn a $10,000 bonus. A victory at nationals would earn Landrus a $40,000 bonus.

4. Danna Durante, University of North Carolina: $50,000

North Carolina was able to make strides of improvement under Durante’s leadership. In 2022 Durante was able to help get the Tar Heels back at regionals after a five-year dry spell. Since then, she has helped the team get back to regionals in 2023 and 2025, where the Tar Heels’ 24th placement was their highest placement in almost two decades. Durante is entitled to a $6,000 bonus for helping her team to a regionals appearance, but if one day Durante can help lead the Tar Heels to a nationals victory, she will be paid handsomely with a $50,000 bonus.  

3. Jeff Graba, Auburn: $50,000

In his fifteenth year at the helm of Auburn gymnastics, Jeff Graba has taken the Tigers to Nationals twice, 2015 and again in 2022, where the Tigers reached the NCAA finals for the first time in program history. While Graba is eligible for a $30,000 bonus for qualifying to the NCAA Championships, the ultimate prize is the $50,000 bonus for capturing the NCAA title.   

2. Jordyn Wieber, Arkansas: $55,000

The 2012 Olympic Champion joined the Razorbacks in 2019 after spending three seasons as UCLA’s volunteer assistant coach. Since then, she has led the Razorbacks back to the NCAA Championships in 2024, where their seventh-place ranking was the highest in over a decade. Should Wieber lead the Razorbacks to an NCAA title, she is entitled to a bonus equivalent to three months of her annual $220,000 salary.

1. Jenny Rowland, Florida: $75,334

Since taking the helm of the Gators, Rowland has consistently kept the team in the top 10, often flirting with a national championship title. The Gators have finished in the top five every year since 2021, earning runner-up finishes in both 2022 and 2023. The Gators continue to stack their roster with talent to make a legitimate run at another championship. If that happens, Rowland will earn a 30% bonus of her $251,116 salary, making her the coach with the highest NCAA Championship victory bonus in all of college gymnastics.

Editor’s Note: This list is based on the contracts we were able to obtain; as we gather more in the future we will update the list.