Who are the highest paid coaches in college basketball in 2025?
It’s that time of year, March Madness is here and we’re enjoying top notch college basketball where the best players and coaches meet to decide who’s No. 1 this year.
College basketball is a thriving industry that attracts millions of fans who flock to stadiums to watch their favorite teams play. Millions more tune in via television to witness the excitement of the sport. The higest paid college coach, Bill Self, has been the head coach of the Kansas basketball team since 2003, and his leadership skills have propelled the Jayhawks to many victories, including the NCAA Division I Tournament title in 2022.
In the 2024-25 season, Bill Self’s salary was the highest in the league, outpacing John Calipari of Arkansas, who previously held the title of the highest-paid coach. College basketball is a fiercely competitive and prestigious arena that attracts top coaching talent through lucrative compensation packages.
As we head into the 2024 March Madness season, it’s worth exploring the top highest-paid coaches in college basketball based on their annual salaries.
Bill Self - University of Kansas - $8.8 Million
However, in November, the coaching hierarchy was upended when Bill Self was given a new contract. This contract made him the highest-paid college basketball coach, with an annual salary of $8.8 million. This contract solidified Self’s position as one of college basketball’s highest paid and successful coaches.
Kansas amended Self’s lifetime contract with the school to be a five-year rolling contract, with the first iteration paying him a reported $53 million over five years. When he won his second national title in 2022, the 60-year-old was making $10.2 million, but his 2023 pay dropped due to the structure of the contract.
#Kansas HC Bill Self talks about the key to continuing success through the evolution of college basketball.
— Sports Radio 810 WHB (@SportsRadio810) March 19, 2025
He says, "We talk about how everything sucks because it's not the way it used to be. There was probably some things about our sport that needed to change." pic.twitter.com/HWLClVy4cX
John Calipari - University of Arkansas - $8 million
John Calipari is widely regarded as one of the country’s most successful and highly-paid college basketball coaches. He is the head coach of the University of Arkansas basketball team and earns an annual salary of $8 million, according to USA Today’s sportdata list of highest-paid college basketball coaches.
Calipari’s success with the Kentucky Wildcats was a major reason for his impressive earnings and status in the sport. Since taking over as head coach in 2009, he led the team to numerous victories, including a national championship in 2012. He has also helped develop some of the most talented players in college basketball, including Anthony Davis, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Devin Booker, who have all gone on to successful careers in the NBA.
John Calipari and Rick Pitino have coached alongside each other for decades.
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) March 22, 2025
The two coached against each other, followed each other to the NBA and back, and today met in March Madness.
This time, Calipari beat his longtime rival Pitino to advance Arkansas to the Sweet 16. pic.twitter.com/47wVEzeOeQ
Beyond his on-court success, Calipari is also known for his philanthropic efforts and commitment to his players’ education and personal development. in 2024 he took the HC position at Arkansas.
Dan Hurley - UConn - $7.8 million
Dan Hurley made news in 2024 when he turned down a lucrative contract to become the new coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. He is back in the headlines after penning a new contract extension with the team he was won back-to-back titles with.
The Los Angeles Lakers were prepared to break the bank for the UCONN head coach with basketball in his DNA during the NBA Finals. They came knocking on the most en vogue college coaches door ready to throw a $70 million dollar offer at him. After a couple days of contemplation, Hurley turned down the six year deal to stay with the Huskies and now it looks like that decision has paid off.
"If it wasn't for all of my antics and viral moments, obviously there'd be more focus on just what we've accomplished as a program the last three years. It's been an amazing run, one of the best runs anyone's had."
— UConn on SNY (@SNYUConn) March 22, 2025
- Dan Hurley pic.twitter.com/M2cfPmjRAo
Tom Izzo - Michigan State University - $6.2 million
Tom Izzo is the head coach of the basketball program at Michigan State University. He earns an annual salary of $6.2 million, putting him in third among the highest-paid college basketball coaches. Izzo’s coaching abilities and the performance of the Michigan State Spartans have led him to be included among the top earners in college basketball coaching.
"Tom Izzo goes far beyond; he's an incredible coach, but he's about the institution as a whole... he teaches all of us how to lead."
— Owen Oszust (@Owen_Oszust) March 9, 2025
MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz on what Tom Izzo means to him and Michigan State. @wilxTV pic.twitter.com/afoto6ZAg8
Mike Cronin - UCLA - $6.1 million
Cronin was named Pac-12 Coach of the Year for the 2019 - 2020 season with UCLA and the following year his team made it to the Final Four. Cronin had previously coached at the University of Cincinnati for 13 years.
Bruce Pearl - Auburn University - $6 million
Bruce Pearl is the head coach of Auburn University’s basketball program. His annual salary of $6 million places him sixth among the highest-paid college basketball coaches. Pearl is widely recognized for his coaching abilities, and the success of the Auburn Tigers under his leadership has contributed to his inclusion among the top earners in college basketball coaching.
"Bruce Pearl and the Auburn Tigers advance to the Sweet 16" 🙌
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 23, 2025
The No. 1 overall seed dances on! #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/rLGZdO9M5u
Rick Barnes - University of Tennessee - $5.8 million
Rick Barnes is an accomplished and highly successful head coach at the University of Tennessee. He is widely regarded as one of the best college basketball coaches in the United States. Barnes’ annual salary is $5.8 million, placing him in seventh place among the highest-paid college basketball coaches.
The Power of Words: A Lesson from Tennessee Basketball Coach, Rick Barnes 🏀🟠⚪
— Athletes In Action (@AIAusa) March 21, 2025
In a world full of noise, it’s easy to forget the impact of our words. Tennessee Men’s Basketball Coach Rick Barnes encourages us to be mindful of what we say. 💪❤️ pic.twitter.com/xpGfOt8m8Q
Barnes has achieved much success during his coaching career, which spans over three decades. He has won several awards and honors, including the Naismith Coach of the Year award in 1998 and the SEC Coach of the Year award in 2019.