Florida football paid a significant price to lure Buster Faulkner away from Georgia Tech and become its first offensive coordinator under head coach Jon Sumrall.
Faulkner will make $2.1 million as the Florida Gators’ offensive coordinator in 2026, according to terms of his contract obtained through an open records request by The Sun. The contract includes a school/coach option that would increase Faulkner’s salary to $2.2 million in 2027 and $2.3 million for the 2028 season.
In 2025, Faulkner led Georgia Tech to 11th in total offense nationally at 460.0 yards per game. He lured four offensive players away from the Yellow Jackets to transfer to UF this season − redshirt sophomore quarterback Aaron Philo, receiver Bailey Stockton, tight end Luke Harpring and center Harrison Moore. Faulkner is the proponent of an Air Raid offensive scheme dating back to roots as a quarterback and former coach at Valdosta State.
New Florida defensive coordinator Brad White will make $1.85 million after leading Kentucky to four Top 25 FBS defenses from 2018-25. White and the school have options that will increase his salary to $1.95 million in 2027 and $2.05 million in 2028.
Of the position coaches, returning UF defensive line coach Gerald Chatman will be the highest-paid in 2026 at $950,000, followed by offensive line coach Phil Trautwein at $750,000. Both Trautwein and Chatman have options to increase their salaries to $1 million if they return in 2027.
The remaining salaries for position coaches in 2026 include quarterbacks coach Joe Craddock ($600,000), linebackers coach Greg Gasparato ($600,00), safeties coach Chris Collins ($550,000), cornerbacks coach Brandon Harris ($550,000), outside wide receivers coach Marcus Davis ($550,000), running backs coach Chris Foster ($500,000), inside receivers coach Trent McKnight ($500,000), tight ends coach Evan McKissack ($400,000), special teams coach Johnathan Galante ($400,00) and outside linebackers coach Bam Hardmon ($350,000).
New Florida strength coach Rusty Whitt, whose charge has been to develop more strength and toughness among UF’s players this offseason, will make $550,000.
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida football coordinator, assistant coach salaries under Jon Sumrall