As of 2024, the highest-paid college basketball coach is John Calipari, the head coach of the University of Kentucky men’s basketball team. Calipari has long been among the highest earners in college sports, with a reported annual salary of around $9 million or more, which includes base salary, bonuses, and other incentives. His compensation package has been one of the most lucrative in college athletics.
Calipari’s success, including multiple Final Four appearances and national championships, has helped solidify his status as one of the top-paid coaches in the NCAA. However, salaries can change over time, and other coaches like Mike Krzyzewski (formerly at Duke) or Bill Self (Kansas) have also earned high salaries in the past, but Calipari has consistently been at the top for several years.
