Report: USC’s Monte Kiffin was nation’s highest-paid assistant coach

Monte Kiffin, who will step down as USC’s assistant head coach for defense after the Sun Bowl, was college football’s highest-paid assistant coach, according to an analysis by USA Today.

Monte Kiffin earned about $1.5 million in total compensation from July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011, according to the most recent tax return that USC, as a private school, is required to make public. Head Coach Lane Kiffin earned about $2.4 million during the same period. Figures for 2011 and 2012 are not available.

The average major college football assistant earns about $200,000 a year, the USA Today analysis found.

USC announced last month that Monte Kiffin would resign after its bowl game to pursue NFL opportunities. The Trojans play Georgia Tech on Dec. 31 in El Paso, Texas.

Monte Kiffin was a longtime NFL defensive coordinator before returning to college football at Tennessee in 2009.

USC is not expected to hire a defensive coordinator until after the bowl game.

Ed Orgeron, who had held that title, has been promoted to assistant head coach.

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