Kevin McGuff earns $20,000 bonus for clinching share of Big Ten regular season title

The Ohio State women’s basketball team clinched a share of the Big Ten regular season title on Sunday thanks to their 79-66 win versus Maryland. That achievement also means that Buckeyes head coach Kevin McGuff clinched a nice bonus as well.

According to USA Today Sports’ Steve Berkowitz, McGuff earns a $20,000 bonus for earning at least a share of the Big Ten regular-season title. His teams have now won a regular season conference championship for the fourth time amid his 11th season with the Buckeyes.

McGuff and the Buckeyes have also clinched the No. 1 seed in the Big Ten Tournament and will have the opportunity to win the conference’s regular season championship outright in their last two games of the season.

Iowa and Indiana currently sit behind the Buckeyes’ 15-1 conference record, each with 13-3 records versus Big Ten opponents this season. But with Ohio State holding a 2-0 record against both teams, the Buckeyes hold a tiebreaker over either team if the regular season happens to end with a tie. And can win the Big Ten regular-season title outright with one win in either of their final two games of the regular season between Michigan or Iowa.

The win continues to add to McGuff’s impressive resume with the Buckeyes, boasting a 196-100 record (unofficially 248–103 due to vacated games)since becoming Ohio State’s head coach in 2013.

After leading the Buckeyes to a 17-18 record in his first season, Ohio State has since made the NCAA tournament six times. Including three Sweet 16 appearances and an Elite Eight appearance last season. Along with winning the Big Ten Tournament during the 2017-2018 season to go along with Ohio State’s regular season title that year.

Sunday’s win also matches McGuff’s career-high with the Buckeyes for conference wins in a season with 15, going 15-3 in conference play during the 2015-2016 season with a chance to break that record in their next two games. Also extending their conference win streak of 14 straight games, remaining undefeated in the 2024 calendar year with the longest win streak in conference play in program history since the 2005-06 season.

The last time McGuff and his squad lost was on December 30 versus Michigan, which is who the Buckeyes face in their next matchup on Wednesday. As they’ll look to get redemption on their rival, win the Big Ten regular-season title outright, and continue their historic stretch of winning.