Highest-Paid College Basketball Coaches: Top Salaries for Coaches

Kansas head coach Bill Self listens as Kevin McCullar Jr. gives a speech on Senior Night after they clinched a share of the Big 12 regular-season championship with a win over Texas Tech in an NCAA college basketball game in Lawrence, Kan., Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann
(AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann
  • Bill Self is the highest paid college basketball coach.
  • Bruce Pearl is the highest paid coach of the four coaches in the Final Four.
  • Duke's Jon Scheyer is the least paid coach of the four coaches in the Final Four.

In November 2023, Kansas’ Bill Self was given a new contract, making him the highest-paid college basketball coach, taking home over $8 million in 2025.

Below are the rest of the highest-paid college basketball coaches for the 2024-25 season, according to USA Today.

Highest-Paid College Basketball Coaches

RankHead CoachSchoolTotal Pay Per Season
1Bill SelfKansas$8.8 million
2John CalipariArkansas$8 million
3Dan HurleyUConn$7.8 million
4Tom IzzoMichigan State$6.2 million
5Mick CroninUCLA$6.1 million
6Bruce PearlAuburn$6 million
7Rick BarnesTennessee$5.8 million
8Scott DrewBaylor$5.4 million
9Tommy LloydArizona$5.3 million
10Nate OatsAlabama$5 million
11Mark PopeKentucky$5 million
12Chris BeardOle Miss$5 million
13Matt PainterPurdue$4.9 million
14Brad UnderwoodIllinois$4.8 million
15Fred HoibergNebraska$4.8 million
16Kelvin SampsonHouston$4.6 million
17Buzz WilliamsTexas A&M$4.6 million
18Chris JansMississippi State$4.2 million
19Mike WoodsonIndiana$4.2 million
20Jamie DixonTCU$4.1 million

Bruce Pearl Salary

Pearl’s salary with Auburn has him making $6 million per year. Pearl will be making his second career appearance in the Final Four.

Kelvin Sampson Salary

The University of Houston coach makes $4.6 million annually. He will be making his third Final Four appearance.

Todd Golden Salary

Golden makes $3.6 million per year at the University of Florida. This will be his first Final Four appearance.

Jon Scheyer Salary

Scheyer makes $1.7 million annually from Duke University, which makes him the 66th-highest paid coach in college basketball. This will be his first Final Four appearance.

What Is Average College Basketball Coach Salary?

College basketball coaching salaries vary, but most Division 1 head coaches make six figures.

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About the Author

Ryan Hannable

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Ryan Hannable is a Content Managing Editor on the Web Content Team for BetMGM. Previously, he was a New England Patriots beat writer for WEEI in Boston. He also has published a golf book, โ€œThe Ultimate Book of Golf Trivia: 600 Questions and Answers.โ€

Ryan Hannable is a Content Managing Editor on the Web Content Team for BetMGM. Previously, he was a New England Patriots beat writer for WEEI in Boston. He also has published a golf book, โ€œThe Ultimate Book of Golf Trivia: 600 Questions and Answers.โ€