Arizona's Tommy Lloyd Ranks 10th in 2025-26 College Basketball Coach Pay

Lloyd's $5.5 million earnings included $400,000 in other pay and $1.26 million in bonuses.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 2:39am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist-style painting featuring sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in vibrant blue, orange, and green hues, conveying the dynamic movement and intensity of a college basketball game.A conceptual illustration capturing the fragmented, high-energy action of a top-tier college basketball matchup.Indianapolis Today

Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd finished 10th among 75 coaches examined with total earnings of $5,500,000 during the 2025-26 season, according to a USA Today survey of public university salaries. Lloyd was 12th with a base salary of $5,100,000, fifth with $400,000 in other pay, and 10th with maximum bonuses of $1,260,000.

Why it matters

Lloyd's high earnings reflect his success in leading the Arizona Wildcats, including a deep NCAA Tournament run. The contract extension he recently signed will significantly increase his pay going forward and includes a large buyout, keeping him at Arizona despite interest from other top programs.

The details

The USA Today survey only included public universities, so private school coaches' salaries were not disclosed. Kansas' Bill Self topped the list with $8.85 million in total earnings, followed by Arkansas' John Calipari and UConn's Dan Hurley. Lloyd tied with Houston's Kelvin Sampson for second-highest pay in the Big 12 Conference, behind only Kansas State's Chris Beard in other pay and Baylor's Scott Drew in base salary.

  • The 2025-26 season earnings data was released on April 17, 2026.

The players

Tommy Lloyd

The head coach of the Arizona Wildcats men's basketball team, who finished 10th nationally in total earnings for the 2025-26 season.

Bill Self

The head coach of the Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team, who topped the list with $8.85 million in total earnings for the 2025-26 season.

John Calipari

The head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team, who finished second nationally in total earnings for the 2025-26 season.

Dan Hurley

The head coach of the UConn Huskies men's basketball team, who finished third nationally in total earnings for the 2025-26 season.

Kelvin Sampson

The head coach of the Houston Cougars men's basketball team, who tied with Tommy Lloyd for second-highest pay in the Big 12 Conference for the 2025-26 season.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

Lloyd's recent contract extension will significantly increase his pay going forward, and another deep NCAA Tournament run would also provide him with a substantial increase in bonuses.

The takeaway

Tommy Lloyd's high earnings as the 10th-highest paid college basketball coach in 2025-26 reflect his success in leading the Arizona Wildcats program. The large buyout in his new contract extension will likely keep him in Tucson despite interest from other top programs.