- Bill Self (Kansas) is the highest-paid college basketball coach.
- Three coaches make more than $8 million per year.
Nineteen college basketball coaches earn at least $3.5 million per season, a group led by four coaches with a national championship on their résumé: Bill Self, John Calipari, Tom Izzo, and Jay Wright.
Highest-Paid College Basketball Coaches
| Head Coach | School | Salary (2021-22) | Buyout |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Self | Kansas | $10,184,282 | $5,410,000 |
| John Calipari | Kentucky | $8,602,306 | $47,718,750 |
| Tom Izzo | Michigan St. | $8,341,321 | $7,432,454 |
| Jay Wright | Villanova | $6,192,252 | N/A |
| Chris Beard | Texas | $5,255,000 | $21,000,000 |
| Rick Barnes | Tennessee | $5,200,000 | $23,137,500 |
| Jamie Dixon | TCU | $4,347,975 | N/A |
| Chris Mack | Louisville | $4,257,494 | N/A |
| Bob Huggins | West Virginia | $4,150,000 | $4,688,750 |
| Eric Musselman | Arkansas | $4,000,000 | $11,433,333 |
| Buzz Williams | Texas A&M | $4,000,000 | $12,933,333 |
| Bruce Pearl | Auburn | $3,825,321 | $8,095,833 |
| Dana Altman | Oregon | $3,759,500 | $19,331,781 |
| Mick Cronin | UCLA | $3,700,000 | $7,900,000 |
| Tony Bennett | Virginia | $3,648,019 | $18,075,701 |
| Jeff Capel | Pittsburgh | $3,533,438 | N/A |
| Scott Drew | Baylor | $3,511,477 | N/A |
| Juwan Howard | Michigan | $3,500,000 | $5,000,000 |
| Brad Underwood | Illinois | $3,500,000 | $16,816,667 |
Who is the Highest-Paid College Basketball Coach?
Bill Self is the highest-paid college basketball coach.
The Kansas head coach tops the list for the 2021-22 season. He took home $10,184,282, which is close to $2 million more than the second-highest-paid coach. Self has a buyout of $5.4 million.
The 59-year-old has been with the Jayhawks since 2003. In 2022, he reached a 19th straight NCAA Tournament and earned another No. 1 seed thanks to the most Quadrant 1 wins in the country. And with a second national championship, Self joined 15 other coaches with multiple titles.
Self received a huge bump in pay for 2021-22 after earning just $3.7 million in cash in 2020-21. Why the big increase? He signed an extension in April 2021 and vested $4.5 in deferred retention pay roughly a year earlier than scheduled.
The Kansas coach reportedly is suspended for the first four games of the 2022-23 season. This is a self-imposed suspension by the school following the 2017 NCAA investigation into the program.
What is John Calipari’s Salary & Buyout?
John Calipari is the second-highest-paid college basketball coach.
Kentucky’s head coach has made roughly $8 million a year consistently the last few seasons and did once again in 2021-22 with a salary of $8.6 million.
In addition to having the second-biggest salary in the country, he has the biggest buyout by far. As of April 1, 2022, it is $47.7 million. Other coaches with high buyouts are Rick Barnes (Tennessee) at $23.1 million and Chris Beard (Texas) at $21 million.
Calipari has been with Kentucky since 2009. The Wildcats missed the NCAA tournament a year ago but are back in 2022. Under Calipari, Kentucky has reached the Final Four three times, including winning the national championship in 2012.
How To Bet on College Basketball Odds
Betting on college basketball odds has never been easier or more exciting. Here’s to place your bets at BetMGM:
- Sign up for a BetMGM account (and take advantage of a welcome offer) or log in to an existing account.
- Visit the college basketball betting page.
- Select a game or odds you’re interested in.
- Add a wager to your betting slip and input a stake.
- Place your bet!
Whether you’re new to betting or a longtime bettor, there are entertainment options for everyone!
