A pair of former Ohio State athletes will earn tens of thousands of dollars more than their predecessors when they take the sidelines to coach at their alma mater.

OSU spokesman Jim Lynch confirmed to The Lantern that Mike Vrabel, a three-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots, will be paid $275,000 this year in his role as linebacker coach.

Vrabel’s salary is $25,000 more than Luke Fickell earned as linebacker coach during the 2010 campaign. 

Fickell is now preparing to enter his first year as head coach of the Buckeyes. The university has removed the interim tag from his title and has increased his salary to $750,000.

Vrabel and Fickell played on the OSU defensive line together during their careers at Ohio Stadium.

Lynch also confirmed that Chris Jent, a former shooting coach with the Cleveland Cavaliers and member of two Big Ten championship teams at OSU, will earn $200,000 in his role as assistant men’s basketball coach.

Jent, who scored 1,007 points in his OSU career, will earn $62,300 more than his predecessor, Brandon Miller, who earned $137,700 in 2010 before resigning.  

The university did not make any additional contract details available, including information regarding incentive-based bonuses.

Lynch said that both contracts are still being finalized.