College basketball coaches are some of the highest-paid individuals in all of sports. Some coaches have been with the same program for decades and get paid for building a legacy, while others prove what they’re capable of and move on to another team.
Even though not everyone gets to enjoy stability in their position, as coaches get fired every season, those who do well with their respective program enjoy the benefits of it. Coaches are often handed long-term extensions by the universities.
Currently, there are at least 10 coaches who make $5 million a season or more. It shows that there are plenty of lucrative opportunities in the market, and those aren’t restricted to only a few select individuals.
Let’s take a look at the top 10 highest-paid men’s college basketball coaches. All figures are via Celebrity Net Worth.
Top 10 Highest Paid Men’s College Basketball Coaches
Bill Self
The Kansas Jayhawks head coach, Bill Self, is the highest-paid men’s college basketball coach. Self has been coaching since 1985, and he joined the Kansas program in 2003. In over two decades, Self has won multiple NCAA and conference titles.
In April 2021, he signed a lifetime contract with Kansas. Two years later, he signed an amended lifetime contract with Kansas and became highest paid coach in college basketball. Self earns $8.8 million per season.
John Calipari
John Calipari had a very successful 15-year run with the Kentucky Wildcats from 2009 to 2024. He won the NCAA title with Kentucky in 2012 and made four NCAA Division I regional – Final Four appearances.
In 2024, he decided to leave the Wildcats and join the Arkansas Razorbacks. While the move was shocking, Calipari became the second-highest-paid college basketball coach, earning $8 million per season.
Dan Hurley
UConn Huskies’ Dan Hurley completes the top 3 list of the highest-paid college basketball coaches. He has been with the Huskies since 2018 and has won two NCAA titles and the Naismith Coach of the Year award in 2024.
Hurley has signed a contract extension through 2031, and he makes $7.8 million per season.
Todd Golden
Todd Golden is one of the youngest coaches on this list. His first head coaching stint was with the San Francisco Dons from 2019 to 2022. Then he moved to the Florida Gators and delivered an NCAA title in just his third season.
He was rewarded for the same by the program with a $6.8 million per-season salary, making him one of the highest-paid coaches.
Tom Izzo
In 1995, the Michigan State Spartans hired Tom Izzo, their assistant coach at the time, as a first time head coach of the program. Five years later, Izzo won the NCAA title with the program and has been with the Spartans since.
Other than the NCAA title, he has eight NCAA Division I regional – Final Four, six Big Ten Tournaments, 11 Big Ten regular seasons, and more. The Spartans pay him $6.2 million per season.
Mick Cronin
The UCLA Bruins hired Mick Cronin as their head coach in 2019. He took the team to the NCAA Division I Regional—Final Four and has built one of the strongest rosters in college basketball. Cronin earns $6.1 million per season.
Rick Barnes
Rick Barnes has been coaching since 1977. He started as an assistant and after a decade, in 1987, he became the head coach of the George Mason Patriots. Barnes has had several long-term coaching stints, and he’s currently with the Tennessee Volunteers.
The Volunteers hired Barnes in 2015 on a contract that pays him $5.7 million.
Scott Drew
Scott Drew has been with the Baylor Bears since 2003, delivering an NCAA title and winning three Big 12 Coach of the Year honors. He makes over $5.4 million per season for not only building the Baylor program but also making it a well-respected program.
Tommy Lloyd
When Tommy Lloyd took over the Arizona Wildcats program in 2021, he was a first-time head coach. He has won numerous Coach of the Year honors, including AP Coach of the Year and Big 12 Coach of the Year.
Even though Lloyd hasn’t had any NCAA success yet, he still makes over $5.2 million per season. Currently, he is rumored to be one of the frontrunners of the vacant head coaching spot in North Carolina.
Nate Oats
Alabama Crimson Tide’s Nate Oats concludes the list of the top 10 highest-paid men’s basketball coaches. He joined the program in 2019 and has delivered an NCAA Division I Regional – Final Four appearance in 2024. His deal with Alabama ends in 2030, and he gets over $5 million per year.
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