Highest paid college basketball coaches in Sweet 16: Salaries for men's Sweet Sixteen coaches

March Madness is fully underway with the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament remaining and more than half the field of teams eliminated. We’re down to the Sweet 16, which delivers a slate of matchups that include battles between many of the highest paid college basketball coaches in 2025.

While a few big names have been knocked out – UConn’s Dan Hurley, Kansas’ Bill Self and UCLA’s Mick Cronin – the likes of John Calipari, Bruce Pearl and Tom Izzo are still here. Ahead of the Sweet 16, here are the highest paid college basketball coaches of the teams left in March Madness. Salaries are courtesy of USA Today.

Disclaimer: Brigham Young University s a private insitution, so Kevin Young’s salary is unknown

Highest paid college basketball coaches in NCAA Tournament

15. Jon Scheyer, Duke Blue Devils – $1.71 million

Following Mike Krzyzewski’s retirement, the Duke Blue Devils made Jon Scheyer the successor to Coach K. By his second season in charge of the storied blueblood program, Scheyer had Duke in the Elite Eight. Expectations are much higher now with a team led by Cooper Flagg and the most talented roster in college basketball. Duke is favored to win it all, but the Blue Devils’ coach ranked 66th among his peers in total salary this season.

Jon Scheyer salary: $1,711,114
Jon Scheyer record: 87-21 as the Duke Blue Devils coach

14. Todd Golden, Florida Gators – $3.6 million

Following the termination of Michael White during the 2021-’22 campaign, the Florida Gators made a long-term bet on Todd Golden. He previously served as head coach for the San Francisco Dons, even getting that program into the 2022 NCAA Tournament. Florida went 16-17 in Golden’s first year and then made the tournament last year following a 24-12 record. In 2025, the Gators were arguably the best team in college basketball in the second half of the season. Golden received a contract extension in March 2024, but he might already be due for another.

Todd Golden salary: $3.6 million
Todd Golden record: 72-33 as the Florida Gators head coach

13. Dusty May, Michigan Wolverines – $3.625 million*

Dusty May isn’t among the highest-paid college basketball coaches right now, ranking 32nd in salary, but that changes next season. In his first year at the helm, May took an 8-win team under Juwan Howard and won more games (27) as Howard did in the last two seasons combined (26). Michigan is also in the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2022. The Wolverines immediately rewarded May with a contract extension, in part to keep him away from Indiana, which will bump up his salary to $4.75 million next season.

Dusty May salary*: $3.625 million this season, $4.75 million beginning next season
Dusty May record: 27-9 as the Michigan Wolverines coach

12. Grant McCasland, Texas Tech Red Raiders – $3.9 million

After losing Chris Beard and then having to part ways with Mark Adams, the Texas Tech Raiders needed someone to keep the program afloat. The Red Raiders stayed in-state, hiring Grant McCasland coming off a 135-65 record at North Texas that included one NCAA Tournament appearance. McCasland immediately turned Texas Tech around from a .500 team before his arrival to a 23-11 program in his first season. Now, Texas Tech is in the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2022, reaching the heights it did with Beard.

Grant McCasland salary: $3,900,000
Grant McCasland record: 50-19 as the Texas Tech Red Raiders coach

11. Kevin Willard, Maryland Terrapins – $4.1 million

Following great success at Seton Hall, the Maryland Terrapisn hired Kevin Willard to take their basketball program to the next level in 2022. He immediately helped the team earn an CNAA Tournament appearance in his first season and he now has the Terarpins in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2016. If Maryland wins, it would head to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2002 and only the fifth time in school history. Regardless of what happens, there are questions about his long-term future with the team following the departure of athletic director Damon Evans.

Kevin Willard salary: $4,100,000
Kevin Willard record: 65-38 as the Maryland Terrapins head coach

10. Kelvin Sampson, Houston Cougars – $4.8 million

The Houston Cougars are getting a bit of a bargain with the Kelvin Sampson contract. He received an extension in 2023, which made him one of the highest paid college basketball coaches, but the school still has a nice return on its investment. Houston had the best defense in college basketball during the regular seaosn, helping the program earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Cougars have reached the Elite Eight twice with Sampson at the helm, and a third trip would equal their glory days from the 1980s (1982-’84).

Kelvin Sampson salary: $4,604,000
Kelvin Sampson record: 296-83 record with the Houston Cougars

9. Matt Painter, Purdue Boilermakers – $4.85 million

Purdue Boilermakers coach Matt Painter is one of the longest-tenured coaches remaining in the Sweet Sixteen. Hired by Purdue in 2005, Painter is now the second-winningest coach in program history behind only Gene Keady. The Boilermakers reached the Final Four last season with Painter and this is the program’s 16th appearance with him in the NCAA Tournament as coach.

Matt Painter salary: $4.85 million
Matt Painter record: 471-214 record with Purdue

8. Chris Beard, Ole Miss Rebels – $5 million

Chris Beard was hired as the Ole Miss Rebels coach ahead of the 2023-’24 season, taking over a program that had just one NCAA Tournament appearance from 2015-2024. After a 20-win season in his first year, Beard’s Rebels have become one of the best teams in college basketball this season. Led by its veteran coach, Ole Miss has reached the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2006.

Chris Beard salary: $5 million
Chris Beard record: 44-23 as Mississippi’s head coach

7. Mark Pope, Kentucky Wildcats – $5 million

After parting ways with John Calipari last offseason, the Kentucky Wildcats poached Mark Pope from the BYU Cougars. Returning to his alma mater, Pope inherited a team that experienced significant roster turnover after a first-round exit in the NCAA Tournament last year. In his first season as Calipari’s. replacement, Pope helped get Kentucky back to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2019. He’s currently tied for 10th among the highest-paid college basketball coaches, but he has one of the smallest maximum bonuses ($700,000).

Mark Pope salary: $5 million
Mark Pope coaching record: 24-11 with the Kentucky Wildcats

6. Nate Oats, Alabama Crimson Tide – $5.018 million

Nate Oats of the Alabama Crimson Tide just narrowly edges out some of the highest-paid college basketball coaches in the Sweet Sixteen, pulling in an extra $18,045 in salary more than Mark Pope and Chris Beard. Oats, age 50, was hired by Alabama in 2019 after a successful stint at Buffalo. With Oats, the Crimson Tide have reached the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament in four of the last five seasons, but they’ve never gotten over the hump in the Sweet 16. With a victory, Alabama would head to the Elite Eight for just the third time ever.

Nate Oats salary: $5.018 million
Nate Oats coaching record: 144-62 as the Alabama Crimson Tide head coach

5. Tommy Lloyd, Arizona Wildcats – $5.25 million

After cutting ties with Sean Miller following three consecutive seasons without an NCAA Tournament, the Arizona Wildcats hired Tommy Lloyd in 2021. It was a bit of a risk, given Lloyd’s only previous coaching experience came as an assistant (2020-’21 at Gonzaga. However, he’s quickly earned one of the highest salaries in college basketball. Arizona is in the Sweet Sixteen for the third time in four years with Lloyd, replicating the success the Wildcats had during Miller’s best years.

Tommy Lloyd salary: $5.25 million
Tommy Lloyd record: 112-32 as the Arizona Wildcats coach

4. Rick Barnes, Tennessee Volunteers – $5.8 million

Rick Barnes has been coaching college basketball since he landed his first head-coaching gig at George Mason in 1987. Months ahead of his 71st birthday, he’s now hoping to take the Tennessee Volunteers to the Elite Eight for the second consecutive year. Barnes is coaching up one of the best defensive teams in college basketball and Tennessee has a good shot at advancing past the Sweet Sixteen. Of note, Barnes has the largest total of maximum bonuses ($3 million) among the highest paid college basketball coaches in 2025.

Rick Barnes salary: $5.8 million
Rick Barnes coaching record: 231-108 record with the Tennessee Volunteers

3. Bruce Pearl, Auburn Tigers – $5.985 million

The Auburn Tigers signed Bruce Pearl to a contract extension in 2022 and he’s probably due for another one after leading the program to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2019 and only the third time since 2000. Auburn’s basketball program used to be irrelevant, going without an NCAA Tournament appearance from 2003-2016. Since hiring Pearl, the Tigers have appeared in March Madness in six of his eight seasons, with two Sweet 16 trips. Pearl has already gotten Auburn to the Final Four once before )2019) and he’s on the verge of becoming the first coach in school history to reach the Elite Eight twice.

Bruce Pearl salary: $5,958,852
Bruce Pearl record: 244-124 as the Auburn Tigers coach

2. Tom Izzo, Michigan State Spartans – $6.2 million

Tom Izzo is the longest-tenured coach with one team in the Sweet Sixteen. Hired by the Michigan State Spartans in 1995, he’s been in charge of the program through different eras of college basketball. He’s taken Michigan state to the Final Four eight time, but it hasn’t happened since 2019. Michigan State, a No. 2 seed this year, does stand a strong chance of reaching the Elite Eight for the first time since 2019, which is also when it last made the Final Four.

Tom Izzo salary: $6,196,879
Tom Izzo record: 736-301 with the Michigan State Spartans

1. John Calipari, Arkansas Razorbacks – $8 million

John Calipari is the highest paid college basketball coach in the Sweet 16. He left Kentucky this offseason after failing to reach the Elite Eight from 2020-’24. Now, he’s got the Arkansas Razorbacks on the doorstep of an Elite Eight appearance in his first season at the helm. Calipari’s team already delivered one big upset as the No. 10 seed, knock out St. John’s in the second round. A Calipari-led team isn’t exactly a Cinderella story, but the Razorbacks can make some noise.

John Calipari salary: $8 million
John Calipari record: 22-13 as the Arkansas Razorbacks coach

Highest paid college basketball coaches in Sweet 16: Salaries for men’s Sweet Sixteen coaches