Head Eastern Illinois football coach Chris Wilkerson has the highest paid salary of the head coaches in the Eastern athletics department in 2022 and makes 12.96% more than the second paid highest coach. 

In 2022, Wilkerson made $188,719, making him the highest paid head coach out of the 13 on campus. Wilkerson makes 326.2% more than the tenth highest paid head coach on campus. 

Some head coaches on campus coach both men’s and women’s teams such as Erin Howarth, Mike Moncel, Keith Roberts, Paul Jarzynka and Johnathan Jordan. 

Roberts is the director of track and field, Jarzynka is the director of tennis, and Jordan is men’s and women’s swimming coach. 

The second highest paid head coach on campus is men’s basketball coach Marty Simmons. Simmons makes $167,063 and that is a 24.96% increase from 2010 when the salary was $133,688. 

The third highest paid head coach is women’s basketball coach Matt Bollant. Bollant makes $122,521 and that is a 27.27% increase from 2010. Bollant came to Eastern in 2017 after coaching at the University of Illinois for five years. 

Archibald is the highest paid female head coach in 2022 and the fourth highest paid head coach at Eastern, making $82,211. She is one of three head female coaches on campus. 

Wilkerson makes 129.55% more than Archibald. Archibald came to Eastern in 2019 and the salary increase from 2010 is 61.89%. 

According to ziprecruiter, as of April 2023, the average annual pay for a NCAA softball coaching in the United States is $46,583 a year. 

The fifth highest paid head coach at Eastern is baseball coach Jason Anderson. Anderson makes $71,466 and he came to Eastern in 2015. The salary increase from 2010 is 11.67%. 

The sixth highest paid head coaching salary at Eastern goes to volleyball coach Sara Thomas, two of three head female coaches on campus.  

Thomas came to Eastern the same year as Archibald, in 2019, and makes $58,708. In 2010, the salary for the head volleyball coach position was $61,800. Thomas was also recently named head coach of beach volleyball.  

Archibald makes 40.03% more than Thomas. According to ziprecruiter in April 2023, the average head women’s Division I NCAA volleyball coach makes $55,297. 

The seventh highest paid head coach in 2022 at Eastern is former women’s soccer coach Jake Plant. Plant made $46,853, which is a $3,205 decrease from 2010. Plant left Eastern to coach at the University of the Incarnate Word and Dirk Bennett was named head coach earlier this year. 

The eighth highest paid head coach in 2022 is men’s and women’s cross country coach Erin Howarth. Howarth made $46,724 and she came to Eastern in 2010 when her salary was $42,000, that is a 11.25% increase. 

The ninth highest paid head coach in 2022 is men’s soccer coach Josh Oakley. Oakley made $45,378 dollars in 2022 and he joined Eastern the same year. The salary increase for the head coach for men’s soccer since 2010 is 13.42%. 

The tenth highest paid head coach in 2022 is men’s and women’s golf coach Mike Moncel. Moncel made $44,279 and has been with Eastern since 2004. The salary increase from 2010 is 26.24%.  

Autumn Schulz can be reached at 581-2812 or at [email protected]