While Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd has already earned $160,000 in performance bonuses during his team’s 32-2 ride so far this season, the vast majority of his compensation is guaranteed.
Under a revised contract that went into effect for the 2024-25 season and goes through 2028-29, Lloyd is earning $5.1 million this year, including $700,000 in additional duties from the school. He can also earn at least $200,000 each in outside deals with Nike and UA’s media rights holder and, overall, was ranked the ninth-highest paid coach in college basketball last season in USA Today's coaching salary database.
So far this season, Lloyd has earned $50,000 for winning the Big 12 regular-season title, $50,000 for the Big 12 Tournament title, $40,000 for winning at least 25 regular-season games, and $20,000 for being named the Big 12 Coach of the Year.
Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd cuts down the net after winning an NCAA college championship basketball game at the Big 12 Conference tournament Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo.
Lloyd will likely earn another $30,000 if the Wildcats finish in the top 10 of either major poll, or $20,000 if they somehow slip to the 11-15 range, and can pick up another $20,000 if he is named the AP, NABC or Naismith coach of the year. He has already been named the Sporting News Coach of the Year, though that award is not listed as a qualifier in his contract.
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In addition, there are potential academic bonuses for team grade-point average and Academic Performance Rate (an NCAA metric that measures retention and eligibility) that won’t be determined until the end of the school year. The GPA bonuses range from $125,000 for a 3.0 GPA to $200,000 for a 3.69 and up, while the APR bonuses range from $25,000 to $50,000.
While Lloyd didn’t get a performance bonus for receiving an NCAA Tournament bid — an accomplishment generally viewed as a standard for the UA men’s basketball program — he will earn $25,000 extra if the Wildcats beat LIU in their first round game Friday in San Diego.
Lloyd also will receive additional bonuses if the Wildcats keep advancing in the tournament: $50,000 for reaching the Sweet 16, $50,000 for the Elite Eight, $175,000 for making the Final Four and $500,000 for winning the national championship.
Added together, an NCAA championship would total $800,000 in bonuses for tournament play plus the $160,000 he’s already earned, then $30,000 for the certain 1-10 finish in the polls and possibly $20,000 for one of the major national coach of the years (though those are voted on before the national championship is decided).
All that would push him over the $1 million mark, which is a substantial 20% beyond his guaranteed pay.
More significantly, going deep in the NCAA Tournament would also give Lloyd significant leverage for another revised deal sometime soon.
Tommy Lloyd’s remaining contract
Salary and additional duties
– 2025-26: $5.1 millon
– 2026-27: $5.1 million
– 2027-28: $5.365 million
– 2028-29: $5.6 million
Annual performance bonuses
Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd, left, celebrates with guard Anthony Dell'Orso, right, and the rest of the team after defeating Iowa State and earning the Big 12 title, March 2, 2026, in Tucson.
– Big 12 regular season champions: $50,000*
– Big 12 tournament champions: $50,000*
– NCAA Tournament second round: $25,000
– NCAA Tournament Sweet 16: $50,000
– NCAA Tournament Elite Eight: $50,000
– NCAA Final Four: $175,000
– NCAA champions: $500,000
– Final ranking 11-15: $20,000
– Final ranking 1-10: additional $10,000
– Regular season 20-24 wins: $20,000*
– Regular season 25-plus wins: additional $20,000*
– Big 12 Coach of Year: $20,000*
– National Coach of Year: additional $20,000
* Already earned for 2025-26
Contact sports reporter Bruce Pascoe at bpascoe@tucson.com. On X(Twitter): @brucepascoe
Bruce Pascoe
Reporter
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