Top Paid Coaches in College Basketball

Who are the top paid coaches in the NCAA? Let’s take a look…

Number 10 John Calipari University of Memphis

Total pay: $1,315,000

During the 90’s, Calipari made UMass an unstoppable team. With his coaching the Minutemen made it to five NCAA tournaments. Coaching his last season there, the Minutemen advanced to the Final Four. Calipari now coaches at Memphis, hoping for similar results. He set the school record for most wins in a single year and then beat it last season with 33 wins. For the second straight time, he won the regular season, and titles in Conference USA and took the team to the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament.

According to USA Today, Calipari got $1,315,000 a year in guaranteed cash and a one-time bonus of $2.5 million.


Number 9 Billy Donovan University of Florida

Total pay: $1,389,173

In ten seasons Donovan has a record of 261-103 and directed the Gators to back to back national championships, three SEC titles, four SEC East titles, three SEC tournament championship, and made three trips to the final four NCAA tournaments.

According to USA Today Donovan makes $1,389,173 per year and got a one-time bonus of $1,942,500. His contract also includes cars (in the medium price range) for him and his wife.


Number 8 Roy Williams University of North Carolina

Total pay: $1,424,274

Williams took Kansas to the Final Four NCAA tournament, four times. It wasn’t long after he was at North Carolina before he started adding to their list of achievements. He directed them to a 106-30 record, 2005 NCAA Champions, two ACC regular season titles, and one ACC tournament championship. Roy Williams is a Hall of Fame coach, and also gives back to the University. He has given $200,000 to a scholarship fund that helps students stay out of debt.


Number 7 Jim Calhoun University of Connecticut

Total pay: $1,500,000

Before Calhoun took over UConn, he had two national championships, more than 700 wins, and became part of the Basketball Hall of Fame. Ever since coaching UConn, Calhoun has won an NIT Championship and a record of 16 Big East titles.


Number 6 Bill Self University of Kansas

Total pay: $1,600,700

Self is one of four coaches in NCAA Division 1 history to take three different teams to the Elite Eight, Tulsa, Illinois, and Kansas. He won three league titles with Kansas, and two each with Tulsa and Illinois.

His contract also includes two luxury cars, memberships at two country clubs, and a term life insurance policy at $2,000,000. According to USA Today he received a one-time bonus of $1,125,000.


Number 5 Tom Crean Marquette University

Total pay: $1,688,487

In 2003 his team made it to the Final Four, led my current NBA star, Dwayne Wade. Crean hasn’t made way to any national titles in the past four years, but made a career record at Marquette at 163-84.


Number 4 Tom Izzo Michigan State University

Total pay: $1,735,964

Within 9 years as a Spartan, Izzo made a 245-93 record. During that time, Izzo led them to a national championship, four Big Ten titles, four times to the Final Four, and ten straight appearances at the NCAA tournament.

Izzo’s contract also includes two cars, and term life insurance policies worth $1,000,000 and $5,000,000. According to USA Today Izzo received a one-time bonus of $9,801,935!


Number 3 Thad Matta Ohio State University

Total pay: $1,750,000

Last season, Matta led OSU to a No. 1 ranking in the final Associated Press college basketball toll. They won the Big Ten title for the second straight year in a row and the conference tournament before a loss in the national championship game.

According to USA Today Matta received a one-time $100,000 bonus and 10 hours of personal time on a private jet of no more than $65,000 a year.


Number 2 Rick Barnes University of Texas

Total pay: $1,800,000

In 2003, Barnes led Texas to the NCAA Final Four. He’s also guided them 8 straight times to the NCAA Tournament. Texas is one of six programs to make it to the Elite Eight twice in the last four years.

Barnes contract also includes two cars, and a $180,000 relocation allowance.


Number 1 Tubby Smith University of Minnesota

Total pay: $2,073,307

Although Kentucky fans often didn’t applaud Smith, he racked up a list of achievements there including, a national championship, five SEC championships, and average of about 27 wins per season, and six Sweet 16 appearances. Smith gained 100 wins faster than any other coach at Kentucky besides Adolf Rupp.

According to USA Today, before moving to Minnesota, Smith was also getting two cars, and a one-time bonus of $4,000,000.


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