What is Lee Corso's Net Worth?
Lee Corso is an American sports broadcaster who boasts a net worth of $12 million. He is a prominent figure in American college football, celebrated for his longstanding role as an analyst on ESPN's College GameDay. Corso’s career initiated as a quarterback and defensive back at Florida State University. After graduation, Corso stepped into coaching, leading teams at Louisville, Indiana, and Northern Illinois.
In 1987, Corso transitioned to broadcasting, joining ESPN as a college football analyst. His charismatic personality and entertaining style quickly won over fans. Corso’s signature moment on College GameDay became his theatrical headgear pick, where he dons the mascot head of the team he predicts will win the featured game.
Throughout his career, Corso has earned numerous accolades, including induction into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach. His catchphrases and energetic presence make him an iconic figure in college football broadcasting, keeping fans both entertained and informed for decades.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Lee Richard Corso was born in Illinois on August 7, 1935, to Italian immigrant parents. Moving to Miami at age ten, he attended Miami Jackson Senior School, playing quarterback. Despite a promising baseball opportunity with a $5000 bonus from the Brooklyn Dodgers, Corso opted for college. At Florida State University (FSU), he played baseball and football, earning the nickname "Sunshine Scooter" for his speed. Corso set a long-standing record with 14 career interceptions. He graduated from FSU in 1957 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and earned a master’s degree in administration and supervision in 1958.
(Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images)
Coaching Career
After college, Corso became the quarterbacks coach at Maryland. In 1962, Corso broke racial barriers by recruiting Darryl Hill, the first African-American football player in the Atlantic Coast Conference. In 1966, Corso became head coach at Louisville, leading his team to its second-ever bowl game in 1970. He then coached Indiana from 1973 to 1982, achieving two winning seasons and a memorable trip to the 1979 Holiday Bowl.
One notable event in Corso's coaching career was during a 1976 game where he called a timeout after an early touchdown, gathering his team for a photo with the scoreboard reading “Indiana 7, Ohio State 6.” Though Indiana lost the game, the photo marked a historic moment.
Corso also coached at Northern Illinois University, with a 4-6-1 record, and later made his professional coaching debut with the Orlando Renegades of the USFL in 1985 before the league suspended operations.
Broadcasting Career
In 1987, Corso became an analyst for ESPN's Saturday College GameDay program, known for his comedic interactions with co-hosts and his catchphrase “Not so fast, my friend!” His mascot headgear prediction is a beloved tradition. Corso marked milestones such as his 250th headgear pick in 2014 with TCU’s Super Frog and his 400th with Colorado’s Chip the Buffalo in 2023.
Corso also appeared in a 2006 Nike commercial, played a regular role in EA Sports' NCAA Football Video Games, and continued to charm viewers with his signature style and enthusiasm.
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Other Works, Charities & Legacy
In the off-season, Corso serves as Director of Business Development for Dixon Ticonderoga, known for leading a project to create a crayon entirely out of soybeans. He is the honorary chairman of Coaches Curing Kids' Cancer, helping fund pediatric cancer research. In 2010, Corso received the NCFAA's Contributions to College Football Award and is listed in the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Alumni Hall of Fame.
Personal Life & Real Estate
Corso has been married to his wife, Betsy, since 1957. They have four children and ten grandchildren. In 2009, Corso suffered a stroke resulting in partial paralysis but remarkably returned to College GameDay the same year. Despite initial speech difficulties, he made a significant recovery.
In 1986, Lee and Betsy purchased a 1.21-acre property in Lake Mary, Florida, for $82,500, where they built a 3,000-square-foot lakefront home.
