How much money does OKC Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault make a year?
Here’s how much the OKC head coach’s contract is worth.
Behind every great team, there is a great coach. And that’s certainly the case for the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are riding the crest of a wave created by Mark Daigneault, their up-and-coming head coach who has turned the fortunes of the side around and led them to the 2024-25 NBA Finals.
But who is Mark Daigneault? And how did the OKC stumble across such a bargain talent for their ambitious project?
Who is OKC Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault?
Daigneault was born in 1985 in Leominster, Massachusetts, and began his basketball journey as a student manager at the University of Connecticut, playing a key role in the 2004 NCAA championship team under Jim Calhoun.
After graduating, he launched his coaching career at Holy Cross as an assistant (2007–2010), before joining Billy Donovan’s staff at the University of Florida, where he helped the Gators to three SEC titles and deep tournament run.
In 2014, he took over the Oklahoma City Blue, the Thunder’s G-League team, amassing a franchise-record 143–107 tally. Briefly promoted to Thunder assistant in 2015 under Donovan, Daigneault returned to coach the Blue until November 2020, when he became head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder first team, marking his maiden step into the NBA.
What is Mark Daigneault’s salary with the OKC?
Since his promotion in November 2020 and following a multi-year extension in July 2023, Daigneault has steered a rapid turnaround—from back-to-back 50-loss seasons to winning the 2023–24 NBA Coach of the Year and guiding the Thunder to a Western Conference-leading 68 wins in the 2024–25 campaign.
“I think he does a great job, and I think that he speaks the language and is totally aligned with the organization,” Thunder general manager Sam Presti said at the time, “which I think helps amplify a lot of different aspects of the team, and I think the team is personifying a lot of the values that we hold as a program.”
Despite this success, OKC continues to keep contract and financial details private. Most reliable reports put his salary at around $4 million annually—placing him just inside the league’s top 25 highest-paid coaches. This aligns with the initial rumour range of $1–4 million per year, though it’s quite likely closer to the upper end. Claims of “double-digit million” figures remain speculative and lack corroborating evidence.
OKC's NBA Finals schedule (ET):
Game 3: Wednesday, June 11 – Thunder @ Pacers – 8:30 PM ET
Game 4: Friday, June 13 – Thunder @ Pacers – 8:30 PM ET
Game 5 (if needed): Monday, June 16 – Pacers @ Thunder – 8:30 PM ET
Game 6 (if needed): Thursday, June 19 – Thunder @ Pacers – 8:30 PM ET
Game 7 (if needed): Sunday, June 22 – Pacers @ Thunder – 8:00 PM ET
You have give Oklahoma City Thunder Head Coach Mark Daigneault a lot of credit tonight because he had his team ready to play. The Thunder dominated the Indiana Pacers in every category of the game - defense, points in the paint, and they attacked the Pacers inside opening up the…
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) June 9, 2025
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Related stories
Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
Complete your personal details to comment