Coaching Division I basketball is a grind. Head coaches watch film, recruit around the clock, draw up game scripts, and develop players in pursuit of a national championship.
College basketball coaches don’t deal with nearly the scrutiny college football coaches face. Basketball teams can reload and turn around in a season. Football takes time on the other hand. Sometimes a lot of time. I personally can’t relate as a Nebraska fan.
A deep run in the NCAA Tournament can elevate a coaching resume for consideration at a top program. That’s where the big bucks are made. Blue bloods like the Duke Blue Devils, Kansas Jayhawks, Michigan State Spartans, and Kentucky Wildcats pay top dollar for some of the best minds in basketball. They also serve as the CEO of their school’s brand.
USA Today publishes a database dedicated to salaries, bonuses,and buyouts. Due to the coronavirus pandemic and COVID-19 outbreak, several coaches took salary reductions this year.
Here are the 25 highest-paid men’s basketball coaches for the 2020-21 season, including their salary this year with pandemic reductions, and their record at their current school as of March 16, 2021.
Among the conferences the Big 12 has seven, the SEC has five, the Big Ten has four, the ACC has four, the Pac-12 has three, and the Big East has two.
Just missing the cut are Oregon’s Dana Altman, Florida’s Mike White, Maryland’s Mark Turgeon, Ohio State’s Chris Holtmann, Missouri’s Cuonzo Martin, South Carolina’s Frank Martin, Arizona’s Sean Miller, Alabama’s Nate Oats, and Arkansas’ Eric Musselman.
Highest-Paid College Basketball Coaches 2020-21
25. Shaka Smart, Texas
AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall
Total Pay: $3.067 million
Record: 109-85
24. Lon Kruger, Oklahoma
Total Pay: $3.07 million
Record: 194-127
23. Andy Enfield, USC
Total Pay: $3.1 million
Record: 154-109
22. Tom Crean, Georgia
Total Pay: $3.2 million
Record: 41-49
21. Archie Miller, Indiana
Total Pay: $3.3 million
Record: 67-58
20. Scott Drew, Baylor
AP Photo/Jerry Larson
Total Pay: $3.35 million
Record: 366-215
19. Ed Cooley, Providence
Total Pay: $3.4 million
Record: 194-135
18. Mick Cronin, UCLA
Total Pay: $3.6 million
Record: 35-21
17. Bob Huggins, West Virginia
Total Pay: $3.645 million
Record: 309-170
16. Tony Bennett, Virginia
Total Pay: $3.66 million
Record: 295-102
15. Bill Self, Kansas
AP Photo/Ron Jenkins, File
Total Pay: $3.661 million
Record: 521-117
14. Jamie Dixon, TCU
Total Pay: $3.67million
Record: 96-71
13. Larry Krystkowiak, Utah
Total Pay: $3.76 million
Record: 183-139
12. Brad Underwood, Illinois
Total Pay: $3.8 million
Record: 70-55
11. Chris Mack, Louisville
Total Pay: $3.81 million
Record: 57-28
10. Fred Hoiberg, Nebraska
AP Photo/Jim Mone
Total Pay: $3.9 million
Record: 14-45
9. Buzz Williams, Texas A&M
Total Pay: $3.9 million
Record: 24-24
8. Bruce Pearl, Auburn
Total Pay: $3.98 million
Record: 138-92
7. Tom Izzo, Michigan State
Total Pay: $3.984 million
Record: 643-253
6. Roy Williams, North Carolina
Total Pay: $4.168 million
Record: 485-162
5. Rick Barnes, Tennessee
AP Photo/Mark Humphrey
Total Pay: $4.7 million
Record: 123-72
4. Chris Beard, Texas Tech
Total Pay: $4.87 million
Record: 111-54
3. Jay Wright, Villanova
Total Pay: $6.1 million
Record: 488-188
2. Mike Krzyzewski, Duke
Total Pay: $7.04 million
Record: 1,097-302
1. John Calipari, Kentucky
AP Photo/Mark Humphrey
Total Pay: $8.095 million
Record: 339-93
