2025 Top Paid College Men’s Basketball Coaches

As of March 2025, the landscape of college men’s basketball coaching salaries reflects the high value placed on experienced and successful leaders. The top-paid coaches not only command impressive salaries but also often benefit from substantial bonuses tied to their teams’ performances. Below is an overview of the highest-paid college men’s basketball coaches:

1. Bill Self – Kansas Jayhawks

• Annual Salary: $9.63 million
• Achievements: Serving as the head coach since 2003, Self has led Kansas to multiple NCAA Final Four appearances and secured national championships in 2008 and 2022.

2. John Calipari – Arkansas Razorbacks

• Annual Salary: $8 million
• Achievements: Calipari joined Arkansas on a five-year contract after a 15-year tenure at Kentucky. His move was facilitated by significant financial backing, including a substantial NIL budget, positioning Arkansas among the top programs in the sport.

3. Dan Hurley – UConn Huskies

• Annual Salary: $7.775 million
• Achievements: Hurley, who led UConn to two national championships, signed a new deal worth approximately $50 million last year. His contract includes a maximum bonus of $1.5 million and a buyout of $42.79 million as of April 1, 2025, making him the highest-paid state employee in Connecticut history.

4. Tom Izzo – Michigan State Spartans

• Annual Salary: $6.2 million
• Achievements: Izzo has been a stalwart at Michigan State, leading the team to numerous NCAA tournament appearances and a national championship in 2000.

5. Mick Cronin – UCLA Bruins

• Annual Salary: $6.1 million
• Achievements: Cronin has revitalized UCLA’s basketball program, guiding the Bruins to consistent NCAA tournament appearances and a Final Four run in 2021.

6. Bruce Pearl – Auburn Tigers

• Annual Salary: $6 million
• Achievements: Pearl has transformed Auburn into a competitive force in college basketball, leading the team to a Final Four appearance in 2019.

7. Rick Barnes – Tennessee Volunteers

• Annual Salary: $5.8 million
• Achievements: Barnes has consistently guided Tennessee to NCAA tournament berths, enhancing the program’s national profile.

8. Scott Drew – Baylor Bears

• Annual Salary: $5.4 million
• Achievements: Drew led Baylor to its first national championship in 2021 and has maintained the Bears as a top contender in college basketball. citeturn0search0

9. Tommy Lloyd – Arizona Wildcats

• Annual Salary: $5.3 million
• Achievements: In his short tenure, Lloyd has propelled Arizona back into national prominence with strong NCAA tournament performances.

10. Nate Oats – Alabama Crimson Tide

• Annual Salary: $5.018 million
• Achievements: Oats has elevated Alabama’s basketball program, leading the team to multiple NCAA tournament appearances and SEC titles.

11. Mark Pope – Kentucky Wildcats

• Annual Salary: $5 million
• Achievements: Pope returned to his alma mater in 2024, succeeding John Calipari. In his first season, he led Kentucky back to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2019.

12. Chris Beard – Ole Miss Rebels

• Annual Salary: $5 million
• Achievements: Beard took over at Ole Miss ahead of the 2023-24 season, leading the Rebels to their first Sweet Sixteen appearance since 2006 in his second year. citeturn0search6

13. Kelvin Sampson – Houston Cougars

• Annual Salary: $4.6 million
• Achievements: Sampson has consistently positioned Houston as a top program, with multiple Sweet Sixteen appearances and a Final Four run in 2021. His contract includes significant performance-based incentives, potentially adding over $1 million for achievements such as a national championship.

14. Matt Painter – Purdue Boilermakers

• Annual Salary: $4.85 million
• Achievements: Painter has led Purdue to consistent success, including a Final Four appearance and multiple Big Ten titles during his tenure.

15. Dusty May – Michigan Wolverines

• Annual Salary: $3.625 million (set to increase to $4.75 million next season)
• Achievements: May led Michigan to a remarkable turnaround, achieving a 27-10 record and a Sweet Sixteen appearance in his first season, marking a 19-win improvement from the previous year.

These salaries underscore the competitive nature of college basketball coaching, where financial compensation reflects a coach’s past achievements and the expectations for future success. Performance-based bonuses further incentivize coaches to lead their teams to higher accomplishments, with some contracts offering substantial rewards for deep tournament runs and championships.