WVU is paying its head football coach and nine assistants in excess of $3 million.

Times are tight … but obviously not as tight as an offensive linemen’s jersey.

Now, thanks to 7.4 percent raises for most assistants during last season, a contracted hike in Stewart’s pay and $8,500 Meineke Car Care Bowl bonuses for each assistant, WVU has passed another notable threshold in football coaching salaries.

That’s $3 million.

The nine assistants are getting a combined $2,172,857.

 “I haven’t seen the latest surveys, but I would think it has to put us right up there (in assistant coaches’ pay),” WVU Deputy Athletic Director Mike Parsons said Monday. “I’m sure it has to be the (highest staff salary) in the Big East Conference.

Breakdown follows the jump … 

A look at the West Virginia University football coaching salaries, including scheduled pay for 2009:

Coach Job 2008 2009

• Bill Stewart Head coach $700,000 $850,000
• Doc Holliday Recruiting coordinator $400,000 $409,640
• Jeff Casteel Defensive coordinator $275,000 $304,847
• Dave Johnson Offensive line $225,000 $250,322
• Jeff Mullen Offensive coordinator $225,000 $250,082
• Bill Kirelawich  Defensive line $200,000 $224,920
• Steve Dunlap Safeties $200,000 $224,380
• David Lockwood  Cornerbacks $200,000 $223,240
• Chris Beatty Running backs $125,000 $142,713
• Lonnie Galloway   Receivers $125,000 $142,713
• Total  $2.7 million $3.0 million

Notes

* Stewart’s pay does not include 2008 incentives reached ($115,000 to date, via season-ticket sales, Big East second-place tie, non-BCS bowl appearance and Top 25 of final polls)

* Stewart will receive additional $100,000 retention bonus if he remains as coach through Sept. 1, 2009 (the 2009 figure of $850,000 includes his 2008 retention bonus).

* Assistant coaches pay includes $8,500 Meineke Car Care Bowl bonus to each, as well as cumulative state employees’ longevity stipend.

* Assistant coaches have two-year rollover agreements (except Holliday, who has a five-year term contract), and received 7.4 percent raises last October, when university staffers eligible for raises received pay hikes.