John Calipari is the highest paid coach in college basketball

It’s not a secret that Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari makes the big bucks to coach the men’s basketball program, and this survey proves just that. USA Today Sports reports that John Calipari is the highest earning coach in college basketball.

Coach Cal earns $7,950,000 school pay from the University of Kentucky, and makes a grand total of $9,276,643 when you factor in bonuses from achievements over the course of a season.

Calipari is in first place by over $2.2 million over Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski. Coach Cal also makes more than Michigan State coach Tom Izzo and Kansas coach Bill Self make, combined.

The even more impressive feat than making almost $10 million as a college basketball coach? Cal’s buyout as of April 1st of this year is $25,000,000.

Yes, you read that right. So it’s safe to say that Cal’s job here in Lexington is very, very, very secure. Not that it ever wasn’t secure.

Back when coach Cal was rumored to be heavily targeted by the Cleveland Cavaliers back in 2014 during LeBron James’ return, Cal turned them down to stay at Kentucky and was also awarded a very hefty contract extension in the process.

Continue to throw all of the money in the state at Coach Cal, Mitch.