Division I Basketball Coaching Salaries

The average college basketball coach salary can vary significantly depending on the size and budget of the university. The National Collegiate Athletic Association, or the NCAA, classifies all colleges as either Division I, Division II or Division III schools. Division I includes over 350 schools; these are usually larger schools that offer the most athletic programs and scholarships, notes the NCAA. These are the schools that dominate the college sports industry, drawing large crowds and attracting attention to their sports programs and athletes.

Average College Basketball Coach Salary

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median salary for coaches at colleges and universities is ​$46,180​ as of 2019. However, coaches of Division I basketball teams can make significantly more, many earning six- and seven-figure salaries.

Some of the highest-paid college basketball coaches in 2020 and 2021 include John Calipari at the University of Kentucky, Mike Krzyzewski at Duke University, and Jay Wright at Villanova University, says USA Today. John Calipari is listed as the highest-paid men's basketball coach as of 2021. Under his current contract, which extends to 2029, he earns a base salary of ​$400,000​ and annual compensation for media and endorsements ranging from ​$7,600,000​ to ​$8,600,000​ per year, notes the University of Kentucky.

Mike Krzyzewski and Jay Wright earn a total annual pay of ​$7,044,221​ and ​$6,144,180​ respectively, as of 2021. Not all NCAA Division I basketball coaches earn seven figures, however. Johnny Jones at Texas Southern and Eric Henderson at South Dakota State University are the lowest paid coaches of those listed by USA Today. Their 2021 salaries are ​$250,000​ and ​$275,000​ respectively.

Female Coaching Salaries

The top-paid women's college basketball coach typically earns less than male coaches for men's teams. For example, at the University of Kentucky, head coach Kyra Elzy earns the same base pay as John Calipari in the amount of ​$400,000​ per year. However, she earns far less in media and endorsements, earning only ​$175,000​ per year, advises the University of Kentucky.

At the University of Tennessee, the head coach of the women’s team, Kellie Harper, earns an annual base pay of ​$275,000​ while the coach for the men’s team, Rick Barnes earns a base pay of only ​$245,000​, advises the University of Tennessee. However, despite earning ​$30,000​ less per year in base pay, Barnes qualifies for supplemental pay of ​$3,005,000​ to ​$3,505,000​ per year while Harper only receives ​$475,000​ per year, notes the University of Tennessee.

The gap in pay between male and female coaches isn’t directly related to salary or base pay as the Equal Pay Act prohibits gender discrimination. The discrepancy occurs with third-party pay, such as endorsements and media appearances. Male coaches might make more public appearances, which can lead to third parties, such as alumni organizations, paying men more.

Basketball Coach Job Requirements

Basketball coaches guide the athletes and team to compete to the best of their ability. This includes tasks such as planning and conducting practices, assessing athletes and developing improvement plans, strategizing games and implementing the strategy, and instructing athletes to help them improve their skills, says the BLS.

Most coaching positions will require a bachelor’s degree, and to become a coach at a Division I school, coaches will need experience and a proven track record of leading a successful team. Most college coaches are former players of the sport. Certification requirements may vary. Depending on the school, coaches may need a teaching license and background check.

The number of Division I coaching positions is not likely to change dramatically and will change as schools are classified or reclassified as Division I by the NCAA. Overall, the BLS expects all coaching jobs to grow between 2019 and 2029 by 12 percent.