Hiring a coach of Dennis Erickson's stature wasn't cheap for the Utah Utes, who are paying Erickson an annual salary of $275,000, according to his contract obtained by the Salt Lake Tribune. Erickson's contract, dated Feb. 19, 2013 through June 30, 2014, is worth the same amount the Utes paid Norm Chow in 2011 and makes him Utah's second-highest paid assistant. Defensive coordinator Kalani Sitake is Utah's highest paid assistant, with a base salary of $500,000. Co-offensive coordinator Brian Johnson and running backs coach Jay Hill both earned $225,000 last year and passing game coordinator Aaron Roderick earned $200,000. Like Johnson, Erickson will receive a monthly stipend of $450 for the use of a car for business purposes. - Lya Wodraska