NORMAN — With Oklahoma suddenly looking for three assistant coaches after the departures of centers and guards coach James Patton, tackles and tight ends coach Bruce Kittle and defensive tackles coach Jackie Shipp in the last two days, assistant coaches’ salaries have come under the microscope.

The Sooners’ assistant coaches combined to make $2,950,800 last season. The total was third in the Big 12 behind Texas ($3,911,000) and Oklahoma State ($3,005,000), according to a database compiled by USA Today.

If OU wants to upgrade its staff it will likely mean paying more in assistant coaches salaries next season. The Sooners have already targeted West Virginia offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh, who made $251,000 last season, for the same position here. As far as a replacement for Shipp and Kittle and what positions they’ll coach is only known by OU coach Bob Stoops. It is likely the Sooners will be paying the new coaches their more than the ones they’re replacing.

Here’s what OU’s coaches made in 2012:

Head coach, Bob Stoops: $4,550,000

Defensive coordinator, Mike Stoops: $600,000

Co-offensive coordinator, Jay Norvell, $360,000

Co-offensive coordinator, Josh Heupel: $351,400

Defensive ends coach, Bobby Jack Wright: $290,000

Running backs coach, Cale Gundy: $284,000

Centers and guards coach James Patton: $272,000

Defensive tackles coach, Jackie Shipp: $270,000

Linebackers coach, Tim Kish: $269,000

Tackles and tight ends coach, Bruce Kittle: $252,000

Here’s the final AP Top 25 from 2012 and here’s what the combined salaries of those schools nine assistant coaches were.(Private schools are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act and therefore don’t have to submit salary information):

1.Alabama: $3,805,000

2.Oregon: $3,179,500

3.Ohio State: $3,288,000

4.Notre Dame: NA

T5.Georgia: $2,770,000

T5.Texas A&M: $2,688,000

7.Stanford: NA

8.South Carolina: $2,449,600

9.Florida: $2,890,500

10.Florida State: $3,042,050

11.Clemson: $4,246,750

12.Kansas State: $2,244,800

13.Louisville: $2,241,400

14.LSU: $4,009,235

15.Oklahoma: $2,950,800

16.Utah State: $770,000

17.Northwestern: NA

18.Boise State: $2,375,541

19.Texas: $3,911,000

20.Oregon State: $1,914,428

21.San Jose State: $801,140

22.Northern Illinois: $866,047

23.Vanderbilt: NA

24.Michigan: $2,926,047

25.Nebraska: $2,150,800

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