From Tom Izzo to Dusty May: The salary for each head coach in NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16

Paying your coach a lot of money doesn’t guarantee annual success as this year’s field in the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 proves. Only three of the 10 highest-paid college basketball coaches in the country still will be roaming the sidelines this week.

Michigan State’s Tom Izzo ($5.7 million), Tennessee’s Rick Barnes ($5.45 million) and UCLA’s Mick Cronin ($4.1 million) all crack the Top 10, but still fall way behind Kentucky’s John Calipari, who is the highest-paid coach at $8.5 million a year.

Not that anyone needs to weep for these coaches. Thirteen of the 16 are making at least $1.4 million this season and some are coaching for huge bonuses with each round they advance. Or, in the case of Texas interim coach Rodney Terry, he’s coaching for a full-time gig. After taking over for Chris Beard, who was fired after being arrested on a domestic assault charge, Terry was promoted from assistant to interim head coach and his salary jumped to $800,000. If he’s done enough to impress his bosses and get to keep the job, that salary will multiply several times over.

Here is the salary for each coach in the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 …

Tom Izzo, Michigan State

Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans reacts against the Marquette Golden Eagles during the second half in the second round game of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 19, 2023 in Columbus, Ohio.

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

2022-23 salary: $5.7 millionPotential bonuses: $150,000 for making the Final Four, increases to $300,000 for winning national championship

Rick Barnes, Tennessee

Head coach Rick Barnes of the Tennessee Volunteers looks on during the first half in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament against the Louisiana Lafayette Ragin Cajuns at Amway Center on March 16, 2023 in Orlando, Florida.

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

2022-23 salary: $5.45 millionPotential bonuses: $800,000 for making Elite Eight, increases to $1 million for making Final Four, $1.2 million for making national championship game or $1.5 million for winning national championship.

Mick Cronin, UCLA

Head coach Mick Cronin of the UCLA Bruins looks on during practice at T-Mobile Arena on March 22, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

2022-23 salary: $4.1 millionPotential bonuses: Earns $25,000 for making Elite Eight, another $50,000 for Final Four, another $25,000 for a national championship game appearance and another $50,000 for winning the national title.

Eric Musselman, Arkansas

Head coach Eric Musselman of the Arkansas Razorbacks looks on during practice at T-Mobile Arena on March 22, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

2022-23 salary: $4.1 millionPotential bonuses: Earns $350,000 for reaching the Final Four, which increases to $500,000 if he wins the national title.

Nate Oats, Alabama

Head coach Nate Oats of the Alabama Crimson Tide gestures down court during the second half against the Maryland Terrapins in the second round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 18, 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama.

Alex Slitz/Getty Images

2022-23 salary: $3.4 million (increases to $4.5 million next season)Potential bonuses: Receives an extra $25,000 bonus for each round Alabama advances in NCAA Tournament with the bonus being increased to $300,000 for a Final Four appearance or $500,000 for a national championship.

Kelvin Sampson, Houston Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson walks past a line of fans cheering on the team as they see the Cougars off to the arena for a second-round college basketball game against Auburn in the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, March 18, 2023, in Birmingham, Ala.Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

2022-23 salary: $3.3 millionPotential bonuses: Receives an extra $50,000 for a trip to the Final Four plus a $150,000 bonus for a national championship.

Dan Hurley, UConn

Head coach Dan Hurley of the Connecticut Huskies fist bumps fans before facing the St. Mary’s Gaels during the the second round of the 2023 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament held at MVP Arena on March 19, 2023 in Albany, New York.

C. Morgan Engel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images

2022-23 salary: $2.9 millionPotential bonuses: Receives $150,000 for making the Elite Eight, which increases to $200,000 for the Final Four, $250,000 for the national championship game and $400,000 for winning it all.

Jim Larrañaga, Miami

Head coach Jim Larranaga of the Miami (Fl) Hurricanes reacts after defeating the USC Trojans 68-66 during the second half in the first round game of the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 18, 2022 in Greenville, South Carolina.

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

2022-23 salary: $2.6 millionPotential bonuses: Not available as University of Miami is a private school and figures are not available under open records.

Sean Miller, Xaver

Head coach Sean Miller of the Xavier Musketeers looks on during the first half against the Pittsburgh Panthers in the second round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at The Fieldhouse at Greensboro Coliseum on March 19, 2023 in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images

2022-23 salary: $2.4 millionPotential bonuses: Not available as Xavier University is a private school and figures are not available under open records.

Greg McDermott, Creighton

Head coach Greg McDermott talks with Baylor Scheierman of the Creighton Cardinals during a practice session ahead of the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Ball Arena on March 16, 2023 in Denver, Colorado.

Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

2022-23 salary: $2.14 millionPotential bonuses: Not available as Creighton University is a private school and figures are not available under open records.

Jerome Tang, Kansas State

Head coach Jerome Tang of the Kansas State Wildcats reacts after defeating the Kentucky Wildcats 75-69 in the second round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at The Fieldhouse at Greensboro Coliseum on March 19, 2023 in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images

2022-23 salary: $2.1 millionPotential bonuses: Receives $100,000 for making it to Elite Eight, which goes up to $200,000 for a Final Four appearance and $600,000 for a national championship.

Mark Few, Gonzaga

Head coach Mark Few of the Gonzaga Bulldogs looks on prior to the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament against the Grand Canyon Antelopes at Ball Arena on March 17, 2023 in Denver, Colorado.

Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

2022-23 salary: $1.9 millionPotential bonuses: None reported

Brian Dutcher, San Diego State

Head coach Brian Dutcher of the San Diego State Aztecs directs his team against the Furman Paladins during the first half in the second round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Amway Center on March 18, 2023 in Orlando, Florida.

Lance King/Getty Images

2022-23 salary: $1.4 million

Rodney Terry, Texas

The Texas Longhorns players interrupt interim head coach, Rodney Terry’s TV interview following their 71-66 victory over the Penn State Nittany Lions during the second round of the 2023 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament held at Wells Fargo Arena on March 18, 2023 in Des Moines, Iowa.

Jamie Sabau/NCAA Photos via Getty Images

2022-23 salary: $800,000Potential bonuses: None

Dusty May, Florida Atlantic

Head coach Dusty May of the Florida Atlantic Owls celebrates after beating the Memphis Tigers 66-65 in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 17, 2023 in Columbus, Ohio.

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

2022-23 salary: $390,000Potential bonuses: Receives $100,000 bonus for reaching the Final Four.

Mitch Henderson, Princeton

Head coach Mitch Henderson of the Princeton Tigers greets Ryan Langborg as he comes off the floor during the second half against the Missouri Tigers in the second round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Golden 1 Center on March 18, 2023 in Sacramento, California.

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Ivy League schools don’t report salaries. Harvard’s Tommy Amaker, who is one of the Ivy League’s most successful head coaches and has been wooed by bigger programs, makes a reported $750,000.