Lee Corso’s Salary And Net Worth 2023

Lee Corso is one of the most popular and entertaining personalities in college football. He has been an analyst on ESPN’s College GameDay since 1987, and is known for his humorous and often unpredictable predictions. But how much does he earn as a broadcaster, and what is his net worth in 2023? In this article, we will explore Lee Corso’s salary, net worth, career, health, and personal life in detail.

Lee Corso’s Salary and Net Worth

Lee Corso has an estimated net worth of $12 million as of 2023. His annual salary from ESPN is not publicly disclosed, but it is estimated to be around $2 million.

Corso’s net worth is mainly derived from his long and successful career as a broadcaster and analyst. He has been with ESPN since 1987, and has been a part of the College GameDay crew since its inception. He is also a frequent guest on other ESPN shows, such as SportsCenter, College Football Live, and The Herd with Colin Cowherd.

Corso’s net worth also reflects his previous career as a college football coach. He served as the head coach at Louisville, Indiana, and Northern Illinois, as well as the Orlando Renegades of the United States Football League (USFL). He compiled a record of 73-85-6 in college football, and 5-13 in the USFL. He also worked as an assistant coach at Florida State, Maryland, and Navy.

Lee Corso’s Career

Lee Corso was born on August 7, 1935, in Cicero, Illinois. His parents were Italian immigrants who worked as laborers. He moved to Miami at age 10, and attended Miami Jackson Senior High School, where he played quarterback. He was also a baseball prospect, and was offered a $5,000 bonus to sign with the Brooklyn Dodgers as a shortstop. However, he chose to attend Florida State University (FSU), where he played football and baseball. He was a roommate of actor Burt Reynolds and baseball coach Ron Fraser at FSU.

As a football player at FSU, Corso earned the nickname “Sunshine Scooter” for his speed on the field. He played both quarterback and cornerback, and set the school record for most career interceptions (14), which stood for more than two decades. He also participated in the 1956 Blue-Gray Game as the starting quarterback for the South team. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1957, and a master’s degree in administration and supervision in 1958.

After college, Corso began his coaching career as the quarterbacks coach at Maryland under his former FSU coach Tommy Nugent. He also made history by recruiting Darryl Hill from the Naval Academy, making him the first African-American football player in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). In 1966, he became the defensive backs coach at Navy.

In 1969, Corso got his first head coaching job at Louisville. He led the Cardinals to two Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) titles in 1970 and 1972, and a record of 28-11-3 in four seasons. He also coached future NFL stars such as Tom Jackson, Otis Armstrong, and Howard Stevens.

In 1973, Corso moved to Indiana, where he coached for 10 seasons. He led the Hoosiers to two bowl games: the 1979 Holiday Bowl (a tie against BYU) and the 1980 Peach Bowl (a win over Virginia). He also coached future NFL players such as Trent Green, Dave Ahrens, Tim Wilbur, and Mike Dumas. His record at Indiana was 41-68-2.

In 1984, Corso coached one season at Northern Illinois, where he went 4-6-1. He then joined the USFL as the head coach of the Orlando Renegades in 1985. He went 5-13 in his only season with the team before the league folde.

In 1987, Corso joined ESPN as an analyst for College GameDay , a show that covers college football games across the country every Saturday morning during the season. He quickly became a fan favorite for his witty and insightful commentary, as well as his trademark headgear picks , where he dons the mascot head of the team he predicts to win the featured game of the day. He has also been known to make some outrageous predictions , such as picking Navy to beat Notre Dame in 2007 (which they did for the first time since 1963), or picking Appalachian State to beat Michigan in 2007 (which they did in one of the biggest upsets in college football history).

Corso has also appeared on other ESPN shows, such as SportsCenter, College Football Live, and The Herd with Colin Cowherd. He has also been a guest speaker at various events, such as the College Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony, the National Football Foundation awards dinner, and the American Football Coaches Association convention. He has also received several honors and awards for his broadcasting career, such as the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football Award in 2011, the Walter Camp Football Foundation Distinguished American Award in 2016, and the Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Sports Personality – Studio Analyst in 2018.

Lee Corso’s Health

Lee Corso has faced some health challenges in his life. In 1996, he underwent quadruple bypass surgery after suffering chest pains. In 2009, he suffered a stroke that left him partially paralyzed and affected his speech. He had to undergo intensive speech therapy to regain his ability to speak. He also had to wear a special headset on College GameDay to help him hear better. Despite these difficulties, he was determined to continue his broadcasting career, and returned to College GameDay in 2009. He has since recovered well from his stroke, and has been praised by his colleagues and fans for his courage and perseverance.

In 2020, Corso faced another challenge due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He had to broadcast from his home in Orlando, Florida, instead of traveling to the game sites with his College GameDay crew. He also had to adjust to the new technology and format of the show. However, he still managed to entertain the viewers with his headgear picks and predictions, often involving his family members or pets as props. He also received a special tribute from ESPN on his 85th birthday in August 2020.

In 2021, Corso returned to the road with College GameDay , although he still took some precautions due to the pandemic. He also celebrated his 86th birthday in August 2021, and received a cake from his co-hosts on the show. He has expressed his gratitude for being able to continue his broadcasting career despite his age and health issues.

Lee Corso’s Personal Life

Lee Corso has been married to his wife Betsy since 1957. They have four children: Diane, Lee Jr., Steve, and Jon. They also have 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Corso is a devout Catholic, and attends Mass every Sunday. He is also an avid golfer, and plays regularly with his friends and family. He is also a fan of Disney movies, and often quotes them on College GameDay . He is especially fond of The Lion King , which he considers his favorite movie of all time.

Corso is also involved in several charitable causes, such as the V Foundation for Cancer Research , which was founded by his late friend and colleague Jim Valvano . He also supports the American Heart Association , the American Stroke Association , and the National Kidney Foundation . He has also donated money to various schools and universities, such as FSU, Indiana, Louisville, Navy, Maryland, Northern Illinois, and Orlando Christian Prep . He has also received several awards for his philanthropic efforts, such as the FSU Alumni Association Circle of Gold Award in 2008, the Indiana University President’s Medal for Excellence in 2013, and the FSU Alumni Association Bernard F. Sliger Award in 2014.

Conclusion

Lee Corso is one of the most beloved figures in college football. He has had a remarkable career as a broadcaster and analyst for ESPN’s College GameDay , as well as a former coach at various schools. He has also overcome some serious health issues, such as a heart surgery and a stroke, and has continued to entertain and inspire millions of fans with his humor and passion for the game. He has also been a generous and compassionate person, who has supported many charitable causes and organizations. He is truly a legend in college football.

Most Asked Questions About Lee Corso

• How old is Lee Corso?
  • Lee Corso is 88 years old as of 2023.
• How much does Lee Corso make?
  • Lee Corso’s salary from ESPN is estimated to be around $2 million per year.
• What is Lee Corso’s net worth?
  • Lee Corso’s net worth is estimated to be $12 million as of 2023.
• What happened to Lee Corso?
  • Lee Corso suffered a stroke in 2009 that affected his speech and mobility. He recovered well from it

and has continued to work as a broadcaster for ESPN’s College GameDay. He also returned to the road with the show in 2021, after broadcasting from his home in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• How long has Lee Corso been on College GameDay?
  • Lee Corso has been on College GameDay since 1987, making him the longest-tenured member of the show. He has been a part of the show since its inception, and has made over 300 headgear picks.
• What is Lee Corso’s headgear?
  • Lee Corso’s headgear is a mascot head that he wears to indicate his prediction for the winner of the featured game of the day on College GameDay. He usually picks the headgear from a box or a bag, and sometimes uses props or costumes to enhance his pick. He has worn over 100 different headgears, representing various teams and schools.
• What is Lee Corso’s catchphrase?
  • Lee Corso’s catchphrase is “Not so fast, my friend!”, which he uses to disagree with or challenge his co-hosts’ predictions or opinions on College GameDay. He often accompanies his catchphrase with a pencil point or a finger wag. He has also used other catchphrases, such as “You’re a daisy if you do!” or “Fuggedaboutit!”
• Where does Lee Corso live?
  • Lee Corso lives in Orlando, Florida, with his wife Betsy. They have a house near Lake Nona, where they enjoy playing golf and spending time with their family and pets.
• Who are Lee Corso’s co-hosts on College GameDay?
  • Lee Corso’s co-hosts on College GameDay are Rece Davis, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, and David Pollack. They are also joined by other analysts and reporters, such as Maria Taylor, Tom Rinaldi, Gene Wojciechowski, and Jen Lada.
• What is Lee Corso’s favorite movie?
  • Lee Corso’s favorite movie is The Lion King , which he considers to be the best movie ever made. He often quotes lines from the movie on College GameDay, such as “Hakuna Matata” or “Remember who you are”. He also wore a Simba headgear to pick LSU over Alabama in 2019, and received a video message from James Earl Jones, who voiced Mufasa in the movie.
• What is Lee Corso’s nickname?
  • Lee Corso’s nickname is “Sunshine Scooter”, which he earned as a football player at Florida State University for his speed on the field. He played both quarterback and cornerback, and set the school record for most career interceptions (14). He also participated in the 1956 Blue-Gray Game as the starting quarterback for the South team.
• What is Lee Corso’s education?
  • Lee Corso graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1957, and a master’s degree in administration and supervision in 1958. He also attended Miami Jackson Senior High School, where he played quarterback and was a baseball prospect.
• What is Lee Corso’s religion?
  • Lee Corso is a devout Catholic, and attends Mass every Sunday. He also wears a cross necklace and a rosary bracelet on College GameDay. He credits his faith for helping him overcome his health challenges and giving him strength and peace.