Raise Lifts Cal Into Top Salary Tier

Raise lifts Cal into top salary tier
Memphis' John Calipari has joined a select group of college basketball coaches near the top of the salary chart. He makes more than $1.8 million

By Dan Wolken
April 29, 2007

John Calipari's latest raise from the University of Memphis makes him one of the highest-paid coaches in college basketball.

According to a copy of the contract amendment he signed earlier this month, Calipari received a raise of more than $500,000, bringing his total guaranteed compensation to $1.816 million per year.

While Calipari's base salary remained the same at $155,000, his radio/television appearance money was increased from $460,000 to $733,000. His compensation for public relations activities went from $385,000 to $658,922.

Calipari's athletic shoe, apparel and/or equipment guarantee went from $300,000 to $270,000, with the $30,000 difference being re-distributed equally to assistants John Robic, Derek Kellogg and Chuck Martin.

The only other change in Calipari's contract regards the bonus for won/loss record and graduation rates. Previously, if Memphis won 81 percent of its games and graduated 60 percent of its players, Calipari received a bonus of $160,000. Now, instead of using the graduation rate, the bonus will be based on the NCAA's four-year academic performance rating called the APR.

If Memphis achieves an APR of 925 -- the NCAA cutoff point before sanctions are issued against a school -- Calipari is eligible to collect the bonus.

Calipari will still collect a $2.5 million annuity if he stays at Memphis through the 2009-10 season.

With this most recent raise, Calipari is now near the top 10 in college coaching salaries. Only a handful of coaches make $2 million or more, including North Carolina's Roy Williams ($3 million), Duke's Mike Krzyzewski (reportedly $3 million), Kentucky's Billy Gillispie ($2.3 million), Ohio State's Thad Matta ($2.1 million), Louisville's Rick Pitino ($2 million), Texas' Rick Barnes ($2 million) and Florida's Billy Donovan (his raise is currently under negotiation).

Calipari's financial package is now on par with the likes of Michigan State's Tom Izzo ($1.8 million) and Marquette's Tom Crean ($1.7 million).

Calipari received roughly a $300,000 raise after the 2005-06 season, when he coached the Tigers to a 33-4 record and an Elite Eight appearance. This year, athletic director R.C. Johnson approached Calipari about a contract renegotiation the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament.

On the heels of another 33-4 record and second straight Elite Eight, Memphis will likely be ranked in the top three of all preseason polls for 2007-08.

-- Dan Wolken: 529-2365