The 9 Richest Head Coaches In College Basketball

College Basketball is one of the NCAA’s most profitable sports, alongside college football. Successful head coaches are reaping the benefits.

More than 40 coaches will make at least $3 million in the 2025-26 campaign. Of those, nine will eclipse the $5 million mark with the highest salary topping out at nearly $9 million.

9 highest paid college basketball coaches

Here, we’ll take a look at those top earners to provide both annual income and past success. Each boasts legitimate national championship chances in the upcoming season, and they’ll look to prove their schools right in paying top dollar.

We’ll list each college basketball coach set to make more than $5 million this year, starting with No. 9 and working our way down to No. 1.

At No. 9…

Nate Oats (Alabama)

Salary: $5,018,045

Oats led the Crimson Tide to a Final Four in 2024. He’s made five NCAA Tournaments in six years while taking home a quartet of conference titles (2 regular season, 2 conference tournament).

Last year, Alabama made the Elite Eight after he signed a six-year contract extension worth $38 million. He is set to cash in more than $5 million this season while attempting to lead another deep postseason run.

Tommy Lloyd (Arizona)

Salary: $5,250,000

Lloyd is in Year 5 with Arizona after leading the Wildcats to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. He’s gone 117-33 in Tucson and won the regular season Big 12 title in 2024.

As a result, he received a contract extension to keep him tied to the program through at least 2030. His $5.25 million annual salary ranks third in the conference.

Scott Drew (Baylor)

Salary: $5,410,061

Drew has been with the Bears seemingly forever. The head coach took over in 2003. He’s done nothing but win across the last two decades.

Baylor has made 13 March Madness fields throughout Drew’s 21-year tenure. That includes a national title in 2021. At more than $5.4 million, his salary is the eighth highest in college basketball.

Rick Barnes (Tennessee)

Salary: $5,800,000

Barnes is the second-most highly paid college basketball coach in the SEC following the retirement of Bruce Pearl at Auburn. He’s earned that pay across 10 seasons in Knoxville.

Tennessee has gone 236-109 under Barnes’ leadership in the last decade. He’s been able to guide the program to seven NCAA Tournaments, highlighted by a pair of Elite Eights.

Mick Cronin (UCLA)

Salary: $6,100,000

Cronin is the first $6 million man on this list, coaching UCLA to the tune of $6.1 million annually. Across six years with the program, he’s won 67% of his games.

The Bruins have made four NCAA Tournaments in that time, including a Final Four run in Cronin’s second season. He landed a two-year extension for that postseason performance.

Tom Izzo (Michigan State)

Salary: $6,196,879

When you think college basketball coaching legends, you think Tom Izzo. The Michigan State leader has been with the program since 1995. In that time, he’s gone to 27 NCAA Tournaments.

Izzo boasts eight Final Four runs and one national title. He is the highest paid college basketball coach in the Big 10, and for good reason.

Dan Hurley (UCONN)

Salary: $7,775,000

Hurley has been the best coach in college basketball over the last three seasons, winning a pair of national titles with the UConn Huskies. He buoyed that production into a 2024 contract extension.

In seven seasons with the program, he’s made five NCAA Tournaments. Along with his massive annual salary, he also owns the sport’s largest buyout.

John Calipari (Arkansas)

Salary: $8,000,000

The Razorbacks jumped at the opportunity to land Calipari following his exit from Kentucky. They backed up the Brinks truck in order to do so.

Calipari was immediately made the SEC’s highest paid coach upon taking the job. The investment paid off in the form of a Sweet Sixteen run in Year 1.

Bill Self (Kansas)

Salary: $8,803,800

Self is on a lifetime contract at Kansas which makes him college basketball’s highest paid coach. He’ll rake in more than $8.8 million in 2025-26.

Self is one of the longest-tenured coaches in the sport, taking over at Kansas in 2003. In that time, he’s led the Jayhawks to 21 NCAA Tournaments, four Final Fours, and a pair of national championships.