Darian DeVries Indiana contract details made public, totals at least $27M over six years

Darian DeVries was introduced as Indiana’s head basketball coach on March 19, but his contract terms were revealed Thursday, April 3.

According to the term sheet released by the university, DeVries will make $550,000 in base salary, with outside and marketing promotional income making up the rest of the $27 million he will earn over his six-year deal.

His contract averages $4.5 million in annual income, making him the fourth-highest-paid coach in the Big Ten, trailing only Purdue’s Matt Painter, Michigan State’s Tom Izzo and Illinois’ Brad Underwood.

This marks a significant increase from DeVries’ 2024-25 salary at West Virginia, which was $2.9 million. His yearly income also surpasses the $4.2 million that Mike Woodson earned in 2024-25.

DeVries’ contract makes him the highest-paid coach in Indiana basketball history, though it still falls well short of football coach Curt Cignetti’s eight-year deal, signed Nov. 16, 2024. Cignetti will make an average of $8 million per year, plus a $1 million annual retention bonus.

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Like Cignetti’s contract, DeVries’ deal includes performance-based bonuses:

• $125,000 for an outright or shared Big Ten regular-season title
• $50,000 for winning the Big Ten tournament
• $25,000 for an NCAA tournament bid
• $25,000 for advancing to the NCAA tournament round of 32
• $35,000 for advancing to the Sweet 16
• $50,000 for advancing to the Elite Eight
• $125,000 for advancing to the Final Four
• $250,000 for winning the NCAA championship
• $50,000 for winning Big Ten Coach of the Year by the media or coaches (maximum of $50,000 in any one season)
• $50,000 for winning the Naismith Coach of the Year Award, AP Coach of the Year Award or USA Today Coach of the Year Award (maximum of $50,000 in any one season)

As part of the contract, Indiana agreed to pay DeVries’ $6.15 million buyout at West Virginia in a “manner that will be tax-neutral” for him.

If Indiana fires Darian DeVries without cause, he is entitled to 80% of his remaining contract income. If he leaves for another job, his buyout is as follows:

• Before March 15, 2026 – $10 million
• Before March 15, 2027 – $8 million
• Before March 15, 2028 – $6 million
• Before March 15, 2029 – $3 million
• Before March 15, 2030 – $1 million
• After March 15, 2031 – $0

The contract took effect March 19, 2025, and runs through March 31, 2031.