This is no Sweet 16 for Cinderellas, and it certainly doesn’t feature a field of coaches who are severely underpaid.
Arkansas’ John Calipari (left), Houston’s Kelvin Sampson (center) and UConn’s Dan Hurley (right) are some of the highest-paid college basketball coaches with teams playing in the 2026 NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16.
This is no Sweet 16 for Cinderellas, and it certainly doesn’t feature a field of coaches who are severely underpaid.
Of the 16 remaining teams in March Madness, only two are worse than a six seed — No. 9 Iowa and No. 11 Texas — and both of those schools have well-funded athletic departments.
So, when you’re watching the region semifinal games, which tip off Thursday, you’ll see some of the most well-compensated coaches in the sport. Eleven of the 16 coaches still in the tournament make at least $5 million per year, led by UConn’s Dan Hurley, who signed a six-year, $50 million contract when the Lakers tried to woo him away from the college game after he won his second of back-to-back national titles in 2024.
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Keep in mind, those salaries are only going to increase this offseason, especially with high-profile openings at North Carolina and possibly Kansas sure to help secure raises for several big-name coaches.
Only two of the coaches with teams still playing — Arkansas’ John Calipari and Tennessee’s Rick Barnes — have more career wins than University of Houston’s Kelvin Sampson, so it makes sense that Sampson is right up there among the highest-paid coaches, checking in at No. 5 among the Sweet 16 teams.
UConn head coach Dan Hurley calls out to his team during the second half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Furman, Saturday, March 21, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Matt Rourke/Associated PressNote: Hurley signed a six-year, $50 million deal in 2024 that averages out to $8.3 million per year
Source: New York Times
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Arkansas head coach John Calipari calls for a coach’s challenge during the second half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament against High Point, Saturday, March 21, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)
Amanda Loman/Associated PressNote: Calipari’s base salary is $7 million with an annual $500,000 retention payment
Source: USA Today
Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo celebrates during the second half against Louisville in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 21, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
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Duke head coach Jon Scheyer yells to his players during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament against TCU, Saturday, March 21, 2026, in Greenville, S.C. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Brynn Anderson/Associated PressNote: Scheyer signed a new contract in October that is estimated at $7 million per year, but Duke is a private school and not subject to open records requests.
Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes reacts to play against Vanderbilt during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinal round of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Friday, March 13, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
George Walker IV/Associated PressSource: Knoxville News Sentinel
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Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson instructs players during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament in Oklahoma City, Saturday, March 21, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston ChronicleSource: Houston Chronicle
Alabama head coach Nate Oats calls a play against Hofstra during the second half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Friday, March 20, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
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Illinois head coach Brad Underwood watches during the second half against VCU in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 21, 2026, in Greenville, S.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Chris Carlson/Associated PressNote: Underwood’s base salary is $4.4 million, but gets a $1.1 million performance-based retention bonus this summer
Source: ESPN
Texas head coach Sean Miller reacts on the sideline during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament against BYU, Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)
Amanda Loman/Associated PressSource: Houston Chronicle
Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd, middle, reacts toward players during the second half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament against LIU, Friday, March 20, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press
Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg acknowledges the fans as he leaves the court after a game against Vanderbilt in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 21, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Nate Billings/Associated PressSource: The Daily Nebraskan
Purdue head coach Matt Painter is seen on the sidelines during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Queens University, Friday, March 20, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Jeff Roberson/Associated PressSource: Indianapolis Star
Michigan head coach Dusty May looks on during the first half against Saint Louis in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 21, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Yuki Iwamura/Associated Press
Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger is seen on the sidelines during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Kentucky, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Jeff Roberson/Associated PressSource: Des Moines Register
Drake head coach Ben McCollum has words with the referee during the first half against Texas Tech in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Wichita, Kan. (AP Photo/Travis Heying)
Travis Heying/Associated Press
St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino reacts during the second half of a game against Kansas in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press
Source: NJ.com
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