Navy's Niumatalolo keeps top salary spot among academy football coaches

Navy's Ken Niumatalolo, who has led the Midshipmen to eight straight wins over Army West Point as part of the rivalry's most lopsided stretch, remains the highest-paid service academy football coach, according to USA Today's annual college football salary list.

Niumatalolo will make $2 million in 2016, per USA Today, up from $1,637,803 last year and good for 57th among all college coaches. Army West Point's Jeff Monken leapfrogged Air Force's Troy Calhoun this year, with the leader of the Black Knights set to take home $932,521 (73rd overall, up from $883,000 in 2015) and the boss of the Falcons earning $885,000 (76th, down from $919,000 total compensation in 2015).

Monken's pay does not factor in the value of housing that's included in his contract. Calhoun has cited that housing among perceived advantages Army West Point has over Air Force when it comes to football infrastructure. Calhoun took over the Air Force job in 2007 and has led his team to a postseason bowl game in eight of nine full seasons. He's lost to Army West Point only once.

Niumatalolo's Mids are 6-1, sit atop the American Athletic Conference standings and rank 22nd in the latest Associated Press poll. This year's success has come despite the 2016 graduation of NCAA touchdown record-holder Keenan Reynolds and the season-ending knee injury suffered by in the season opener by Tago Smith, Reynolds' replacement at quarterback.

Monken's four wins so far in 2016 equal his season-high as a head coach at West Point, set in 2014. Calhoun's Falcons also sit at 4-3. The teams meet at West Point on Nov. 5; a win gives Air Force the Commander in Chief's trophy, which now resides in Annapolis.