USA Today reveals the highest paid coaches in basketball, and the top two might miss the Big Dance
Kentucky’s John Calipari is still the highest paid coach in college basketball, according to USA Today’s updated database of all coaches’ salaries throughout college basketball. Coach Cal makes a comfortable $8,095,800 annually and also has the largest buyout at a casual $54 million, way more than double any other buyout listed on USA Today’s report.
Coming in a close (and secretive) second place, Mike Kryskewkijaskdiski is listed with a salary of $7,044,221, and he too is in jeopardy of missing the NCAA Tournament, which means the two highest paid coaches are unlikely to coach in the Big Dance later this month.
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Jay Wright of Villanova is third, and the top 10 includes four coaches from the Southeastern Conference:
| RK | SCHOOL | COACH | SCHEDULED SCHOOL PAY | CONTRACT YEAR PANDEMIC REDUCTION | ACTUAL SCHOOL PAY | TOTAL PAY | TOTAL PANDEMIC REDUCTION | SCHOOL BUYOUT AS OF 4/1/21 |
| 1 | Kentucky | John Calipari | $8,000,000 | $0 | $8,000,000 | $8,095,800 | $0 | $54,000,000 |
| 2 | Duke | Mike Krzyzewski | — | — | — | $7,044,221 | — | — |
| 3 | Villanova | Jay Wright | — | — | — | $6,144,180 | — | — |
| 4 | Texas Tech | Chris Beard | $5,050,000 | $328,708 | $4,721,292 | $4,873,592 | $569,333 | $15,267,641 |
| 5 | Tennessee | Rick Barnes | $4,950,000 | $242,500 | $4,707,500 | $4,707,500 | $327,500 | $16,625,000 |
| 6 | North Carolina | Roy Williams | $2,475,000 | $93,750 | $2,381,250 | $4,168,250 | $93,750 | $7,612,500 |
| 7 | Michigan St | Tom Izzo | $3,922,266 | $362,560 | $3,559,706 | $3,984,706 | $441,492 | $6,629,911 |
| 8 | Auburn | Bruce Pearl | $3,931,330 | $0 | $3,931,330 | $3,980,630 | $0 | $8,638,542 |
| 9 | Texas A&M | Buzz Williams | $3,900,000 | $0 | $3,900,000 | $3,900,000 | $0 | $16,925,000 |
| 10 | Nebraska | Fred Hoiberg | $4,000,000 | $100,000 | $3,900,000 | $3,900,000 | $100,000 | $22,000,000 |
To see the complete list of salaries all the way through Rick Pitino at No. 84 on the list, click USA Today’s updated story here.
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