Virginia Tech's Bud Foster Nation's Highest Paid Assistant

Folks in Blacksburg know that Bud Foster has long been one of the best coaches in the country, but his pay hasn't always reflected that.

According to the latest assistant coach salaries list published by USA Today, Foster was the highest paid assistant in the nation this season with a total salary of $1,369,500. That makes him one of only five assistant coaches to make more than a million dollars this season including Alabama's Kirby Smart and Clemson's Chad Morris.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Virginia Tech&#39;s Bud Foster is the highest paid assistant coach this season. Here&#39;s the full list: <a href="http://t.co/PDCIXZgUL4">http://t.co/PDCIXZgUL4</a></p>&mdash; USA TODAY Sports (@USATODAYsports) <a href="https://twitter.com/USATODAYsports/status/542779880216485890">December 10, 2014</a></blockquote>

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The number is slightly misleading however.

This was the year where Foster's deferred compensation agreement finally kicked in. Foster agreed to an annuity payment of $800,000 to be received if he remained at Tech for five seasons from the beginning of the agreement in 2009. The money also would have been paid if Frank Beamer hadn't continued in his position as head coach.

That puts his salary sans annuity for this season at $569,500. That would put Foster's pay at 44th in the nation right between California's offensive and defensive coordinators.

Foster has been at Tech since 1987 and has served as defensive coordinator since 1995. He also coaches inside linebackers and assists with special teams.

The Hokies finished the regular season ranked 17th in the nation in both total defense and scoring defense.