The 9 Largest Head Coaching Buyouts In College Basketball

The coaching carousel in college sports never ends and the arms race for national titles continues to grow. Head coaching contracts at major programs are becoming more and more lucrative.

Higher totals can be seen in both annual salaries and bonus opportunities. They can also be seen with buyouts. Sometimes it pays to get fired!

As a result, buyouts have become major talking points. College coaches are being paid millions to stop working. Schools unhappy with on-field results will not hesitate to pony up boatloads of cash for the betterment of the program.

Top college basketball coaches that fail to perform will be let go. Universities waste no time in relieving leaders of their duties, and often, money is not a deterrent – even as these buyout totals grow.

Largest college basketball buyouts.

There were nine college basketball coaches reported to have buyouts of more than $20 million as of April 2025. These numbers have been provided by USA Today.

While some totals may have changed a bit over the last few months, they should provide a good reference as to college basketball’s largest buyouts.

Matt Painter (Purdue)

Buyout: $20,675,000

Painter has been with the Boilermakers since 2005, leading the program to 16 NCAA Tournament appearances. He’s paid $4.85 million per season.

His buyout is north of $20 million should he be fired by the university without cause. That is the third-largest total in the Big Ten.

Tommy Lloyd (Arizona)

Buyout: $21,150,000

Lloyd has been with the Wildcats for four seasons. He’s won 24 games or more in each. That’s resulted in four consecutive trips to the Big Dance. He was rewarded for his production in Year 4.

Arizona extended Lloyd through 2029-30. His buyout is reportedly more than $21 million.

John Calipari (Arkansas)

Buyout: $21,437,500

Calipari had a successful debut season in Fayetteville, leading the Razorbacks to the Sweet 16. He more than justified his $8 million annual salary.

While his relationship with Kentucky soured towards the end, he is still considered a top coach and recruiter. For that, he is paid handsomely.

Should Arkansas choose to walk back its investment, it will be forced to pay. Calipari’s buyout is north of $21 million, the second-highest number in the SEC.

 

Bill Self (Kansas)

Buyout: $23,100,000

Self is the highest paid college basketball coach in the country at $8.6 million annually. He is on a lifetime contract with the Jayhawks.

The head coach has earned his pay with a pair of national championships. If he is unexpectedly fired without cause, the school will owe more than $23 million.

Steve Pikiell (Rutgers)

Buyout: $24,000,000

Pikiell has been with the Scarlet Knights since the 2016 season. In that time, he’s led the program to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances.

While his resume is not as impressive as others on this list, he is paid highly to the tune of $3.8 million per season. His buyout is $24 million after signing a recent extension that keeps him at the school through 2030.

Brad Underwood (Illinois)

Buyout: $25,900,000

Underwood is in Year 9 with the Illini and on the heels of a five-year NCAA Tournament run. After starting his tenure with two down years, he’s ripped off six straight 20-win seasons.

Should Illinois decide to fire him without cause, it would owe just under $26 million. Barring unforeseen circumstances, the program shouldn’t be forced to make that move anytime soon.

TJ Otzelberger (Iowa State)

Buyout: $29,000,000

Otzelberger has the largest buyout of any college basketball coach in the Big 12. His total sits at $29 million.

The coach has led the Iowa State program for four seasons. Each has resulted in a trip to the NCAA Tournament. He signed a contract extension in 2024 that will keep him with the Cyclones through 2032.

Nate Oats (Alabama)

Buyout: $32,420,417

Oats is owed more than $32 million if fired by Alabama without cause. That total is the highest in the Southeastern Conference.

The coach has been in Tuscaloosa for six seasons, one of which ended in the Final Four. Oats has won 70% of his games with the Crimson Tide. He signed a six-year extension in 2024 worth $38 million and is owed all of that money if let go.

Dan Hurley (UConn)

Buyout: $42,789583

Hurley has the largest buyout of any coach in college basketball. That number comes in at more than $42.7 million. He is also the nation’s third-most highly paid coach at $7.775 million annually.

The two-time national champion signed an extension with the Huskies after a brief flirtation with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2024. That new deal was valued at $50 million over six years.